The Effects of Calabash Chalk on the Female Reproductive Organs: An In-Vivo Study

The present study investigated the effects of Calabash Chalk on the histoarchitecture of the ovary and the uterus of adult wistar rats. Twenty one female wistar rats weighing between 180-200g were used for this study. All the animals were housed properly and fed with feed and water ad libitum. Daily vaginal smear analysis was done on all the rats for three consecutive estrous cycles to ascertain the state of the estrous cycle of each rat so as to ensure that they were all at the same phase (proestrous) of the estrous cycle before administration commenced on each rat. The rats were divided into three Groups: Group A (control) was given distilled water, groups B and C were given 500mg/kg and 1000mg/kg body weight of Calabash chalk respectively orally for fourteen days. On day 14, the animals were euthanized by cervical dislocation and the ovary and uterus were excised and taken for histopathological examination. The results revealed that there was no appreciable change in mean weight across the treatment groups (p<0.05). The histological examination of groups B and C showed normal histology of the ovaries. Also there was no noticeable change in the histological features of the uterus. The findings suggest that Calabash chalk has no adverse effect on the histology of the ovary and uterus.

Key Words: Calabash Chalk, Ovaries, Geophagy, Histology, Vaginal smear