Odo R.I., Mbegbu E.C., Nwosu K.C., Aba P.E., Aka L.O., Obidike I.R.
Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria
Odo, R.I., Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria; Mbegbu, E.C., Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria; Nwosu, K.C., Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria; Aba, P.E., Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria; Aka, L.O., Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria; Obidike, I.R., Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria
A total of 30 Albino rats of 12 weeks of age were sourced from Altran Farm in Nsukka and acclimatized for 3 weeks. Five males and five females were exposed to cement dust for 3 months at the Eastern Blocks and Concrete Industries Limited, Nsukka, Nigeria. Ten males and ten females were kept in an environment free from cement dust but within the same climatic zone and were the unexposed. The effect of cement dust was then determined on reproductive performance and some physiological parameters of the rats. The uterus of the exposed females showed significant decrease (p < 0.05) in weight (2.19 ± 0.05) when compared to that of the unexposed females (4.09 ± 0.55). The mean epididymal sperm reserve of the exposed males (12.25 ± 2.17) was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) when compared to that of the control group (18.46 ± 0.325). The mean testicular weight of the exposed males (1.03 ± 0.09) was significantly reduced when compared to the control (1.42 ± 0.026). The mean fetal weight and crown rump length of the offsprings from the exposed females (4.07 ± 0.17, 3.12 ± 0.09, respectively) were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) when compared to those of the offsprings from the unexposed females (5.64 ± 0.10, 5.36 ± 0.17, respectively). The mean number of offsprings from exposed males (6.00 ± 0.45) was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) when compared to that from unexposed males (9.80 ± 0.37). The hematological evaluation showed significant reductions (p < 0.05) in mean PCV, HB, RBC, and WBC of the exposed rats (27.50 ± 2.20, 8.31 ± 0.61, 3.61 ± 0.82, 4.70 ± 0.63, respectively) when compared to the unexposed (43.17 ± 3.52, 14.1 ± 0.72, 7.21 ± 0.45, 8.48 ± 0.86, respectively). The results of serum enzyme levels (AST, ALP, and ALT) of the exposed rats (87.12 ± 3.42, 93.87 ± 14.18, 45.06 ± 5.25, respectively) were significantly increased (p < 0.05) when compared to the unexposed rats (56.98 ± 8.38, 24.71 ± 2.11, 25.72 ± 2.96, respectively). © 2014, Springer-Verlag London.