EX VIVO AND IN VIVO INVESTIGATION ON THE ROLE OF WATER-SOLUBLE VITAMINS ON UTERINE ACTIVITY IN MICE MODELS
Bafor EE*1, Okosun EA1, Omoruyi O1, Elvis-Offiah UB2, Eze GI3, Igbinuwen O4, Braimoh KP5, Eghianrua JO3
1 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Nigeria
2 Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Nigeria
3 Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Nigeria,
4 Haematology Department, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria
5 Histopathology Department, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria
Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 9(1): 59-74; June/July 2017
ABSTRACT
Studies have shown that nutritional intake and metabolism may play an important role in the causes and treatment of several female reproductive health issues. The water-soluble vitamins B6, B12 and C have been suggested to play important roles in maternal and reproductive health in general. This study is therefore aimed at investigating the direct effects of the water soluble vitamins on uterine contractility using ex-vivo assays and on female reproductive function using non-pregnant mice models. The effect of the vitamins ascorbic acid (ASA), cobalamin (CBL) and vitamin B complex (VBCo) on spontaneous, oxytocin (OT)-induced uterine contractility and high KCl-induced (80 mM) tonic contractions were examined. ASA (0.1 – 444.40 μg/ml), CBL (0.0005 – 2.22 μg/ml) and VBCo (0.03-124.43 μg/ml) were observed to produce concentration-dependent inhibition of spontaneous uterine contractility. On OT-induced uterine contractility, ASA (0.07 – 777.78 μg/ml), CBL (0.004 – 0.89 μg/ml) and VBCo (0.19 – 217.76 μg/ml) were observed to inhibit OT-induced uterine contractility with CBL and VBCo showing a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in frequency. No change was however observed on the effect of ASA, CBL or VBCo on tonic uterine contraction produced by high KCl. On effect of reproductive hormone levels, CBL was observed to have significantly decreased (p < 0.0001) plasma levels of oestradiol (E3) and progesterone (P4). On reproductive tissues in the presence of CBL (1.0 mg/kg), hypertrophy of the cervix, a reduction in the number and size of the uterine glands and matured follicles in the ovaries were observed. These observations show a significant role for the water soluble vitamins in female reproductive function.
KEYWORDS: Uterus; Water-soluble vitamins; Ascorbic acid; Cobalamin; Vitamin B complex
Email of correspondence: enitome.bafor@uniben.edu