Effect of Lycopene on Selected Electrolytes in Sprague Dawley Rats Exposed to Dimethoate

Aim: This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of lycopene on some selected electrolytes in Sprague Dawley rats exposed to Dimethoate.

Experimental Design: A completely randomized experimental design using standard methods for analysis.

Location and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in the Department of Biology, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. GPS 4o48ʹ14ʹʹ N 6o59ʹ12ʹʹ E. The study lasted for 28days.

Methodology: Thirty male rats were randomly selected into five (5) groups A-E (n=6/group). Groups B, C and D recieved 10,20 and 30 mg/kg/bw/day of dimethoate respectively co-administered 10mg/kg/bw of lycopene daily. Group E were administered 30mg/kg/bw/day of dimethoate without lycopene. All animals were allowed access to cool clean water and standard rat pellet ad libitum. Twenty-four hours to the termination of the experiment, feed was withdrawn from the animals. Blood samples for electrolytes analysis were collected through ocular puncture between the hours of 7:00am and 9:00am into plain sample tubes according to the approved protocol of blood collection techniques, while statistical analysis was carried out using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and expressed as their respective units using SPSS 20 software.

Results: Result showed a significant (P=0.05) increase in the concentrations of sodium, calcium, potassium and bicarbonate with increase in the concurrent administration of lycopene. The highest concentration of all electrolytes was observed at the concentration of 30mg/kg/bw/day with coadministration of lycopene. Administration of lycopene at the concentration of 10mg/kg/bw appeared not to have any significant effect on production of electrolytes since all the electrolytes assessed increased with increased concentration of the pesticides. However, further work is required to make any conclusive statement with lycopene effect on electrolyte.