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. 2015 Jul-Aug;22(4):17-22.

Maternal Geophagy of Calabash Chalk on Foetal Cerebral Cortex Histomorphology

Theresa Bassey Ekanem  1 , Moses Bassey Ekong  2 , Mokutima Amarachi Eluwa  1 , Anozeng Oyono Igiri  1 , Eme Efiom Osim  3
Affiliations

Maternal Geophagy of Calabash Chalk on Foetal Cerebral Cortex Histomorphology

Theresa Bassey Ekanem et al. Malays J Med Sci. 2015 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

Background: Calabash chalk, a kaolin-base substance is a common geophagic material mostly consumed by pregnant women. This study investigated its effect on the histomorphology of the foetal cerebral cortex.

Methods: Twelve gestating Wistar rats were divided equally into groups 1 and 2. On pregnancy day seven (PD7), group 2 animals were administered 200 mg/kg body weight of calabash chalk suspension, while group 1 animals served as the control and received 1 ml of distilled water, by oral gavages and for 14 days (PD7-PD20). On PD21, the dams were sacrificed, and the foetuses removed, examined for gross malformations, weighed and culled to two foetuses per mother. Their whole brains were excised, weighed and preserved using 10% buffered formalin, and routinely processed by haematoxylin and eosin, and Luxol fast blue methods.

Results: The foetuses showed no morphological change, but their mean body weights was higher (p=0.0001). Histomorphological sections of the cerebral cortex showed hypertrophy and hyperplasia of cells in all the cortical layers, with less demonstrated Nissl and higher (p=0.001) cellular population compared with the control group.

Conclusion: Calabash chalk cause body weight increase and histomorphological changes in the cerebral cortex of foetuses.

Keywords: body weight; cerebral cortex; chalk; maternal; morphology; rats.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Ctr (1a) - Section of the foetal cerebral cortex of the control group showing six cortical layers: Mz (marginal layer), Cp (cortical plate), Sp (subcortical plate), Iz (intermediate plate), SVz (subventricular zone), and Vz (ventricular zone) (H. & E. Å~400).
Figure 2
Figure 2
G2 (1b) – Section of the foetal cerebral cortex of the chalk group whose mothers received 200 mg/kg of calabash chalk suspension showed hyperplasia and hypertrophy of cells in all the layers, especially in the cortical plate (H. & E. Å~400).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Ctr (2a) - Section of the foetal cerebral cortex of the control group showing six cortical layers: Mz (marginal zone), Cp (cortical plate), Sp (subcortical plate), Iz (intermediate plate), SVz (subventricular zone), and Vz (ventricular zone). The Nissl substance was deeply demonstrated throughout the entire layers (Luxol Fast Blue. Å~400).
Figure 4
Figure 4
G2 (2b)- Section of the foetal cerebral cortex of the chalk group whose mothers received 200 mg/kg of calabash chalk suspension showed less deeply demonstrated Nissl substance throughout the entire layers compared with the control group (Luxol Fast Blue. Å~400).
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