title: Maternal Geophagy of Calabash Chalk on Foetal Cerebral Cortex Histomorphology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Calabash chalk, a kaolin-base substance is a common geophagic material mostly consumed by pregnant women. This study investigated its effect on the histomorphology of the foetal cerebral cortex.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve gestating Wistar rats were divided equally into groups 1 and 2. On pregnancy day seven (PD7), group 2 animals were administered 200 mg/kg body weight of calabash chalk suspension, while group 1 animals served as the control and received 1 ml of distilled water, by oral gavages and for 14 days (PD7-PD20). On PD21, the dams were sacrificed, and the foetuses removed, examined for gross malformations, weighed and culled to two foetuses per mother. Their whole brains were excised, weighed and preserved using 10% buffered formalin, and routinely processed by haematoxylin and eosin, and Luxol fast blue methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The foetuses showed no morphological change, but their mean body weights was higher (p=0.0001). Histomorphological sections of the cerebral cortex showed hypertrophy and hyperplasia of cells in all the cortical layers, with less demonstrated Nissl and higher (p=0.001) cellular population compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Calabash chalk cause body weight increase and histomorphological changes in the cerebral cortex of foetuses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, #1 Ikpa Road, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Theresa Bassey
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Ekanem
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Etta-Agbo Road, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Moses Bassey
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ekong
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, #1 Ikpa Road, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Mokutima Amarachi
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Eluwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, #1 Ikpa Road, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Anozeng Oyono
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Igiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Etta-Agbo Road, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Eme Efiom
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Osim
keywords: body weight; cerebral cortex; chalk; maternal; morphology; rats