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International Journal of Agricultural Science Research

International Journal of Agricultural Science Research Vol. 4(10), pp. 192-196, October 2015 ISSN 2327-3321 ©2015 Academe Research Journals

 

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of fresh Citrus limon juice on the kidney histomorphology of growing rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Solomon I.P1, Oyebadejo S.A2*, Udoh U.H1 and Ukpo E.M1

1Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo, Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria.

2Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: samsonoyebadejo@yahoo.com. Tel: +23470332166621.Accepted 7 October, 2015

Abstract

The effect of Citrus limon juice on the kidney histomorphology of growing rabbits was investigated. A total of 24 rabbits, male and female (10-16 weeks), were weighed and distributed into 4 treatment groups. Control, which is group 1, was treated with normal diets without C. limon juice. 25% C. limon juice was administered to treatment group II, 50% C. limon juice was administered to treatment group III, and 75% C. limon was administered to treatment group IV. After 5 weeks of administration of the juice, animals were weighed and sacrificed. Kidney tissues were extracted, weighed and processed for histopathological analysis. Kidney weight of the experimental groups III and IV was significant (P<0.01), whereas that of treatment group II was not significant (P>0.05) and the weight gain in all the treatment groups was not significant when compared to that of the control group. The histopathological findings from the experimental groups II, III and IV revealed preserved cyto-architecture without any area of cellular abnormality when compared to the control group. In conclusion, C. limon juice does not pose deleterious or abnormal effects on the kidney of growing rabbits, as such, it can be included in rabbit feed or water.

Key words: Rabbit, kidney, Citrus limon, histomorphology.