Full Length Research Paper

Comparative biochemical studies of the pregnant and non pregnant uterine limbs of the frugivorous bat, Eidolon helvum

Samson A. Odukoya¹*_, David A. Ofusori²_, Olusola A. Adeeyo³, Oladele A. Ayoka⁴, Taiwo A. Abayomi⁵, Sunday A. Ajayi⁵ and Benedict A. Falana⁵

¹Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria.

²Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

³Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

⁴Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

⁵Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: davidofus234@yahoo.com. Tel: +234-803-615-3842

Accepted 1 September, 2009

   Abstract

Biochemical differences existing in the two uteri limbs during the pregnant state in the fungivorous bat (Eidolon helvum) were investigated. A total of twenty female pregnant bats were studied. They were harvested on the Obafemi Awolowo University Campus at different times to assess the different stages in their gestation and uterine cycle. The animals after being carefully assessed screened and confirmed to be presumably healthy were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Abdominopelvic incisions were made on them to expose and excise their uteri. The pregnant and non pregnant uteri were divided into four parts; the right uterine limb, the left uterine limb, the placenta, and the uterine body. The different parts were assayed for their total protein concentrations, Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and Glucose-6-Phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) activities. This study has shown that the uterine limbs actively utilized different metabolic pathways according to the functions they subserve during pregnancy. The pregnant limb utilizes the Embden Meyerhof pathway more while the non pregnant limb utilizes the Hexose Mono Phosphate Shunt actively.

Key words: Eidolon helvum, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, total protein, uterus.