Some Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Ghrelin Hormone in White Rats

Abstract

This study was carried out to estimate the ghrelin-like effects induced by feed restriction and Syzygium aromaticum (clove) supplementation on reproductive system of female Sprague dawley rats during estrous cycle and pregnancy. In the 1st experiment (estrous experiment): seventy-two adult female Sprague dawley rats were equally divided into 4 groups: control group was fed on a standard ration (15g/animal/day), feed restricted group fed on (7.5g/animal/day) and two clove-supplemented groups were fed on a standard ration to which clove powder was added at a rate (15 and 30 mg/kg animal/day), respectively. In the 2nd experiment (pregnancy experiment): one-hundred adult female pregnant Sprague dawley rats equally divided into 5 groups: control group fed on a standard ration fed on a standard ration (15g/animal/day) then increased to (20g/animal/day) from the 14th day of gestation, feed restricted group received 50% of the daily standard ration, two clove-supplemented groups were fed on standard ration to which clove powder was added at a rate (15 and 30 mg/kg animal/day), respectively and the last 5th control feed restricted group received standard ration before the pregnancy and 50% of the daily standard ration after induction of pregnancy.