Gonadotropic Activity of Pituitary Extract of African Catfish,
Clarias gariepinus, in Mammals using Immature Wistar Rats as
Models

Simon      Azubuike Ubah; Samson      Eneojo Abalaka; Victory      Clara Asibor; Ebenezer      Kehinde Ogundana; Itodo   Joy   Iyojo; Oluwa      Adikpe Agbonu; Philemon      Kwinjoh Columbus; Kenneth      Owoicho Abah; Christopher      Ese Obudu; Oluwatobi      Akefe Isaac; Prisca      Adaoma Ezinwo

doi:10.2174/1872208317666230313153832

Abstract

Background: The pituitary glands normally produce and stores gonadotropic hormones (GnH) that are responsible for ovulation and spermiation in animals. However, whether fish pituitary extracts can elicit same effects in treated animals need elucidation as a prelude to their practical usage in animals.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the oestrus-inducing potential of the pituitary gland extract of the Africa Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in immature Wistar rats.

Methods: The experiment involved the use of 18 immature female Wistar rats and 10 male catfish brood stocks with the use of six Wistar rats per groups as follows: Group A had human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) treatment. Group B had only normal saline treatment as the control whereas Group C had the C. gariepinus pituitary extract administration to induce oestrus with treatments occurring twice six hours apart in each group.

Results: There was an obvious expression of visible signs of heat and the presence of uterine horn oedema with significant (p < 0.05) increase in reproductive tract weight and uterine width and length. However, only progesterone levels increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the hCG and the C. gariepinus pituitary extract treated groups compared to other assayed hormones.

Conclusion: These results showed that C. gariepinus pituitary extract has the capacity to induce oestrus in Wistar rats because of its gonadotropic effects, which needs further investigations at higher doses and for longer exposure periods for possible oestrus induction and synchronization in higher mammals. Further favourable results could herald the possible patent of the catfish pituitary extract for either experimental or commercial use in mammals.

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DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1872208317666230313153832	Print ISSN 1872-2083
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher	Online ISSN 2212-4012

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Gonadotropic Activity of Pituitary Extract of African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus, in Mammals using Immature Wistar Rats as Models

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