ABSTRACT

Background: Increasing infertility rate among humans is now becoming a global health issue not only in Western countries but also in developing countries.

Aim: To compare the toxic effects of different cottonseed oil on fertility of female rats.

Study design: Randomized controlled trial.

Methodology: Twenty four adult female albino rats (12 weeks of age) were divided into 04 groups. Group-1 (Control) rats were given orally distilled water @ 400mg (equivalent to 400μl)/kg body weight per day. Group-2, Group-3 & Group-4 rats were given cottonseed oil obtained from insecticide free non-GM crop, cottonseed oil obtained from insecticide sprayed non-GM crop, cottonseed oil obtained from insecticide free GM (Bt) crop @ 400mg (equivalent to 432μl)/kg body weight per day, respectively, for a period of 30 days. Data analyzed by SPSS 24.0v.

Results: LH levels (mlU/ml) found in Group-1, Group-2, Group-3 and Group-4 were 7.480±0.389, 7.350±1.049, 7.462±0.513 and 7.753±0.876, respectively. Similarly, FSH levels (mlU/ml) among all groups were 0.891±0.123, 1.231±1.038, 0.847±0.567 and 0.870±0.745, respectively. However, number of follicles and ova were reduced in all other Groups except control.

Conclusion: This study concluded that the crude cottonseed oil significantly affected female rat fertility in terms of reduced number of follicles and ova. However, it did not affect fertility parameters like LH levels and FSH levels. Hence, its use in edible products might adversely affect women fertility.

Keywords: Cottonseed Oil, Hormone levels and Number of Follicles.