Vitamin C supplementation modulates crude oil contaminated water induced gravid uterine impaired contractile mechanism and foetal outcomes in Wistar rats

Shakiru Ademola Salami; Fatai. O. Oreagba; Hussein M. Salahdeen; Ibiyemi I. Olatunji-Bello; Babatunde A. Murtala

doi:10.1515/jcim-2023-0081

Article

Vitamin C supplementation modulates crude oil contaminated water induced gravid uterine impaired contractile mechanism and foetal outcomes in Wistar rats

Shakiru Ademola Salami , Fatai. O. Oreagba , Hussein M. Salahdeen , Ibiyemi I. Olatunji-Bello and Babatunde A. Murtala

Published/Copyright: June 12, 2023

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From the journal Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine Volume 20 Issue 3

Abstract

Objectives

Crude oil is a common environmental contaminant that impacts the reproductive functions of women. Understanding the contractile mechanism of the gravid uterus and how it impacts fetal outcomes during crude oil-contaminated water (CCW) exposure is still evolving. This study investigates the effect of vitamin C supplementation during the ingestion of CCW from Bayelsa, Nigeria, on the contractile mechanism of the gravid uterus and fetal outcomes.

Methods

Fifteen nulliparous pregnant rats were randomly divided into 3 groups of 5 rats each and treated with normal saline (control), CCW (2.5 mL), and CCW + vitamin C (10 mg/kg bwt), respectively. Treatments were via oral gavage from gestation days 1–19. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of CCW, uterine oxidative biomarkers, and in vitro contractile activity of excised uterine tissue to acetylcholine, oxytocin, magnesium, and potassium were determined. Furthermore, uterine responses to acetylcholine after incubation with nifedipine, indomethacin, and N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester were also recorded using the Ugo Basile data capsule acquisition system. Fetal weights, morphometric indices, and anogenital distance were also determined.

Results

Acetylcholine, oxytocin, magnesium, diclofenac, and indomethacin-mediated contractile mechanisms were significantly impaired with CCW exposure; however, vitamin C supplementation significantly attenuated the impaired uterine contractile activity. Maternal serum estrogen, weight, uterine superoxide dismutase, fetal weight, and anogenital distance were significantly reduced in the CCW group compared to the vitamin C supplemented group.

Conclusions

Ingestion of CCW impaired the uterine contractile mechanism, fetal developmental indices, oxidative biomarkers, and estrogen. Vitamin C supplementation modulated these by elevating uterine antioxidant enzymes and reducing free radicals.

Keywords: anogenital distance; crude contaminated water; estrogen; superoxide dismutase; uterine contractile activity; vitamin C

Corresponding author: Shakiru Ademola Salami, Department of Physiology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, P.M.B 21266, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, Phone: +2348036190270, E-mail: shakiru.salami@lasu.edu.ng

Acknowledgments

To my student Allen Michael for his general contribution to this manuscripts.

Research funding: None declared.
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
Informed consent: Not applicable.
Ethical approval: The studies were conducted in accordance with the guidelines approved by the Animal Research Ethical committee of Lagos State University College of medicine. (Ref. No: AREC/2022/047).

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Received: 2023-03-29

Accepted: 2023-05-25

Published Online: 2023-06-12

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2023-0081

Keywords for this article

anogenital distance; crude contaminated water; estrogen; superoxide dismutase; uterine contractile activity; vitamin C