Effects of Graded Dose of Sodium Benzoate on Ovaries of Adult Female Albino Wistar Rats

Abstract

Objective: To determine the gross effects of graded dose dependent affects Sodium Benzoate on ovaries in adult female albino Wistar rats

Methodology: This quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Animal House of Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam, using 30 adult female albino Wistar rats (150–200g), randomly divided into three groups: A (control), B, and C. Group A received a regular lab chow diet, while Groups B and C were fed chow mixed with sodium benzoate at doses of 300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Initial and final body weights were recorded. After the experiment, rats were anesthetized with chloroform and sacrificed using cervical dislocation. Ovaries were extracted, weighed, and preserved in 10% formalin for histological analysis using Hematoxylin and Eosin staining. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0.

Results: Ovarian weight was higher in the control group (0.065g) compared to group B (0.039g) and group C, (p > 0.05). Though, group C showed a significantly higher incidence of blood congestion (66.7%) than group B (25.0%) and the control group (8.3%) (p < 0.004). Cellular hypertrophy rat was significantly higher in group C (70.0%) compared to group B (30.0%) and the control group (0%) (p < 0.001). Oocyte degeneration was also significantly more common in group C (69.2%) than in group B (23.1%) and the control (7.7%) (p < 0.001). Additionally, vacuolation was observed in 61.5% of group C, 30.8% of group B, and only 7.7% of the control group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Histological analysis indicated that sodium benzoate may have contributed to increased blood congestion, cellular hypertrophy, and vacuole formation within the ovarian tissue specifically at higher dose.