EFFECT OF CROWDING (SPACE LIMITATION) ON ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY IN MALE WISTAR RATS

ABSTRACT

Crowding (space limitation) is caused by increased density of population. Population density may be raised either by increasing the number of species living in the same area and/or by reducing their living space. There is existential report of crowding (space limitation) inhibiting antioxidant capacity and causing lipid peroxidation in the liver as seen in changes in the levels of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, catalase etc. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of crowding (space limitation) on antioxidant capacity in male wistar rats. Twenty (25) male wistar rats of comparable age weighing between 160g to 190g were used for this research. The rats were divided into five groups (A, B, C, D and E) with five animals in each group. Group A served as control, while Groups B to E served as the test groups. Crowding (space limitation) was induced by reducing the size of the cages for the different test groups. Group A animals which were the control were placed in a cage with a dimension of 42cm × 30cm × 24cm. Group B were placed in a cage having the same size and dimension as that of the control that is 42cm × 30cm × 24cm. Group C animals were placed in a cage that was threequarter of the control that is 31.5cm × 22.5cm × 24cm. Group D animals were placed in a cage half the size of the control that is 30cm ×21cm × 24cm. Group E animals were placed in a cage that is one-quarter of the size of the control that is 21cm × 15cm × 24cm. The animals in all the groups were allowed to live in their various cages dimension for a duration of seven (7) weeks. To determine the antioxidant capacity, activities of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione (GSH), Catalase (CAT) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. Statistical analysis was done using graph pad prism version 8.0.1. Results were presented as Mean ± standard error of mean. Analysis of variance was used to compare the means of tests and control and a P value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significance. Results revealed no statistical significant difference among the test groups when compared with control. Hence it was concluded that crowding (space limitation) had no effect on antioxidant capacity (Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione (GSH), Catalase (CAT), Malondialdehyde (MDA) activities) in male wistar rats for the period that they were exposed.