Reproductive and Pup Parameters of Female Wistar Rats (Rattusnorvegicus) Mated by Males Treated with Date Fruit Extract and Cypermethrin

Abstract

The work was designed to study the effect on fertility and pup parameters of female Wistar rats mated to male Wistar rats that were treated with Date fruit extract and Cypermethrin. A total of 48 mature Wistar rats (Rattusnorvegicus) comprising of 24 males and 24 females were randomly distributed into four groups (I, II, III, and IV) of 12 animals per group of which six were males and six were females. The six males in groups I, II, III and IV received distilled water; Cypermethrin at 60mg/kg body weight; Date fruit extract (DFE) at 250 mg/kg body weight; and a mixture of Cypermethrin (60 mg/kg body weight) and DFE (250mg/kg body weight) respectively. Treatment was given once weekly per os for eight weeks after which treated males were mated with the females at a ratio of 1: 1. Conception and pregnancy rates; gestation length; litter size; litter weights at birth, day‐5, day‐10, day‐15 and day‐21 post‐partum; anogenital distance at day‐10; sex ratio and age of pup at hair growth were measured. Results showed that there were no significant differences (p>0.05) in all parameters measured except sex ratio. More female than male offsprings were born to the Date fruit treated male groups. It was concluded that Cypermethrin at 60 mg/kg body weight did not alter the fertility of male Wistar rats while Date fruit extract at 250 mg/kg body weight favored the birth of more female off springs. Further investigation is required to unravel the potential of Date fruit extract in sex selection.