Hormonal assays following oral administration of bonny light crude oil on male Wistar rats

Abstract

Introduction: Crude oil is composed of a wide range of chemicals and its hydrocarbon content differs widely depending on the location and source. Bonny light crude oil (BLCO) is Nigeria’s marker crude oil with a low sulfur content and low corrosive property. The effect of BLCO on the serum levels of reproductive hormones was evaluated in male Wistar rats. Methodology: Seventy-five (75) male Wistar rats weighing between 150 and 200 g were divided into five groups A, B, C, D and E consisting of 15 animals. Groups A-D served as the experimental groups and Group E served as the control that received normal saline. 0.5, 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 ml/kg bw of BLCO was administered to the experimental animals in Groups A, B, C and D respectively via oral gastric intubation once on alternate days for 60 days. The animals were sacrificed and blood was collected via cardiac puncture, centrifuged and the serum was collected for hormonal assay using the enzyme-linked immuno-absorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results: There were significant (P < 0.05) higher serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the treatment groups particularly in the 2.5 and 3.5 ml/kg bw groups when compared with the control. There was also a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the serum testosterone hormone (TH) level in the treatment groups. The effects were observed to be dose dependent. Conclusion: BLCO has significant effects on the serum levels of LH, FSH and TH of male Wistar rats and the effect may be at the level of the testis.