Evaluation of Heavy Metals in Gills, Bones and Muscles of Fishes from Crude Oil Polluted Water of Ogoniland, Rivers State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine the concentrations of heavy metals (cadmium, chromium, zinc, manganese, lead and iron) in organs (gills, bone and muscle) of Iutjanus campechanus and Chrysichthys nigrodidatatus from Gokhana, and Khana local government areas in River State, Nigeria were investigated.&#x0D; This heavy metals were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The result show that Iron was significantly more abundant in the gills, bone and muscle tissue than other element with mean concentration of 144-144.58 mg/kg in the gills, 18.19-39.77 mg/kg in the bone and 5.47-21.50 mg/kg in the muscle of both catfish and red snapper in Kaa while in bodo-city the concentration varies from 189-238 mg/kg in the gills, 42.16-45.39 mg/kg in the bone and 11.74-43.84 mg/kg in the muscle of both fishes respectively. Maximum concentration of Zinc was recorded in gills from Bodo-city for both fishes and minimum value was recorded in the muscle of both fish species in Kaa. High level of chromium, manganese and lead were recorded in bone of both species while the least concentration of all elements was recorded in the muscle of catfish and red snapper. It was observed that the level of metals in all organs were high except for chromium in the muscle which was lower than the permissible limits for human consumption designated by the USEPA, WHO, FAO. The result revealed that the distribution of the heavy metals follow the order Fe&gt;Zn&gt;Mn&gt;Pb&gt;Cd&gt;Cr for Chrysichthys nigrodidatatus and Fe&gt;Zn&gt;Pb&gt;Mn&gt;Cd&gt;Cr for Iutjanus campechanus while the distribution in the organs follow the other Gills&gt;bone&gt;muscle for both fish spices in Kaa and Bodo-City respectively. This reveal the health effect the people in the study area could be exposed to by the consumption of the muscle of catfish and red snapper which have high levels of these metals. Measures need to be taken as the level of Heavy metals detected in organs from the two site posed serious threat to the populace that feed on them.</jats:p

Evaluation of Stress Enzymes Activities and Lipid Peroxidation in Heart Homogenates of Male Albino Rats Following the Administration of Diclofenac

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are associated with an increase in cardiovascular events despite its uses in the therapeutic agent for the management of long- and short-term pain. Over the last years, evidence has accumulated showing that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Oxidative stress is no longer considered as a simple imbalance between the production and scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS), but as a dysfunction of enzymes involved in ROS production. This study investigated the effect of diclofenac on the activity of oxidative stress enzymes as well as formation of lipid peroxidation. Male rats weighing about 100-120 g were divided into four groups: group one (control, feed+water) group two, group three and group four treated with different mg/kg/day of drugs (50 mg/kg/day, 100 mg/kg/day and 150 mg/kg/day) feed and water respectively for 7 days. Analysis on the effect of diclofenac on the activities of stress enzymes such as nicotine adenosine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogenase oxidase (NADPHoxidase), xanthine oxidase(XOD), catalase(CAT), superoxide dismutase(SOD) and Glutathione Peroxidase as well as evaluation of lipid peroxidation by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) in the heart homogenate were carried out and the result showed a significant increase in each parameter given rise to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) if not moderated by the antioxidant defense can lead to cardiac impairment as a result of oxidative stress damage or injury. The result obtained implies that diclofenac (NSAIDs) affects the redox status of vascular tissues (heart tissues).</jats:p

Growth Performance and Hematological Characteristics of Wistar Rats Fed Diets Formulated from Three Species of Mollusks (Limicolaria flammea, Viviparus contectus and Egeria radiata) from Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Aim: The present study investigated the performance characteristics and hematological parameters of Wistar rats fed diets formulated from three species of mollusks (Limicolaria flammea, Viviparus contectus and Egeria radiata).&#x0D; Study Design: Twenty-five Wistar rats (negative control, positive control, 3 experimental groups) were used in the 28-days feeding experiment and administered diets as follows: T1-Basal, T2-CerelacTM (Nestle Foods Nigeria Plc), T3- L. flammea, T4- V. contectus and T5- E. radiata.&#x0D; Methodology: Proximate composition of diets and faecal and carcass nitrogen were determined by standard methods while hematological analysis was done using Mindray PC-10 Auto Hematology Analyzer.&#x0D; Results: Crude protein composition of the experimental diets ranged from 6.74±0.03% to 19.58±0.02% in T1 and T5 respectively. T2, T3, T4 and T5 animals had significant weight gain except T1. T3, T4 and T5 had higher total feed consumed values compared to T2. There was no significant difference in feed conversion ratio (FCR) between T2 and experimental diets (T3, T4, T5). T1 had a negative feed conversion ratio (FCR) (-0.03±0.002) and hence significantly lower (p&lt;0.05) than T2, T3, T4 and T5. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) was lowest in T5 and highest in cerelac group; Protein efficiency ratio (PER) of T2 was significantly higher (p&lt;.05) than other groups while T1 was significantly lower (p&lt;.05) than other groups. True digestibility (TD) in T4 was higher than other experimental groups (T1, T2, T3, T5). Biological value (BV) showed the following trend: T5&lt;T3&lt;T4&lt;T2. There was no significant difference (p&gt;0.05) in the relative organ weights of the heart, kidney and spleen of rats in this study. Except for T3, all other diets boosted packed cell volume (PCV) levels higher than controls (T1 and T2).  T4 animals had higher values for packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cells (WBC) and lower values for monocytes and neutrophils when compared to T1 and T2.&#x0D; Conclusion: The formulated diets thus showed good potential to maintain health (except T3 which showed significant harmful effects on hematological parameters) hence their consumption (after proper cooking) is thus encouraged.</jats:p