EFFECTS OF CROWDING (SPACE LIMITATION) ON BLOOD GLUCOSE AND ORGAN WEIGHT INDEX IN WISTAR RATS.

ABSTRACT

Crowding is known to exert significant impacts on physiological and metabolic processes in various organisms, including rats. This study investigated the effects of crowding on blood glucose levels and organ weight index in Wistar rats. Twenty-five male Wistar rats of comparable age weighing between 160g-190g were allowed to acclimatize for a period of 2 weeks with free access to feed and water before the commencement of the experiment and thereafter they were placed in partitioned plastic cages with wire mesh floor that were used to condition them to crowding(space limitation). The rats were randomly divided into five groups A,B,C,D,E: a control group, A, housed in standard conditions and crowding groups B-E exposed to crowded living conditions for seven (7) weeks. Blood glucose levels were measured at the end of the study and organ weight indices were calculated for the heart, liver, lungs and kidneys. Statistical analysis was done using Graph Pad Prism version 8.0.1. Results were presented as mean ± standard error of mean. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the means of test and control values. While post hoc test was done using Tukey’s multiple comparison test and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The results revealed an increase in blood glucose levels in the crowded group compared to the control group. Furthermore, the organ weight indices of the liver, lungs and kidneys were found to be significantly decreased. However, no significant differences were observed in the heart weight indices. These findings highlight the detrimental effects of crowding on glucose metabolism and specific organ weight indices