The Effect of an Imported Chewing Gum on the Reproductive System in Mice PDF

Keywords

chewing gum, mice, reproduction

Abstract

The effect of an imported chewing gum on the male and female reproductive systems of Swiss albino mice was evaluated. The chewing gum was administered both in drinking water and food at a pooled dose of 2 g/kg/day for a period of 8 weeks. The results revealed that the imported gum lacks the potential to induce spermatotoxicity, sterility or embryonic loss for the exposure period used. The observations on the female reproductive system indicated insignificant changes in fertility and post-implantation loss. However, the total and pre-implantation embryo losses in the treated females increased as compared with the control group. The estrogenic activity of the gum was evaluated using gum extract, suspended in corn oil, and administered (i.p.) in a dose of 250 mg/kg/day for 3 days. The results showed an increase in the uterine weight in experimental groups when compared with control groups. However, a statistically significant activity was evident only in the strawberry-fllavoured gum. It is possible that the chewing gum contained some flavouring components with potential estrogenic activity that interfere with the hormonal status and hence the process of ovulation.