Pregnancy

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a role in estrogen-mediated uterine receptivity. We hypothesize that L-arginine a NO substrate will increase NO production and boost pregnancy outcomes in rats with inhibited NO synthase activity. Thirty-two pregnant rats were randomly divided into four groups, control (10 mL/kg of water), L-NAME (50 mg/kg), L-NAME + L-Arg (50 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) and L-Arg only (500 mg/kg). L-Arg and L-NAME were administered orally and subcutaneously respectively from day 3-11 of pregnancy.

The aim of this study was to estimate serum cortisol levels during the trimesters of pregnancy and six weeks post-partum. 25 healthy women between the age range of 21 and 35 were recruited for this study. They were divided into five groups (n=5), (group 1: control; group 2: 1st trimester; group 3: 2rd trimester; group 4: 3rd trimester; group 5: Postpartum). Blood samples were collected from the subjects and serum Cortisol level was estimated using a commercially prepared ELISA kit. Results were analysed and a p-value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Estrogen and Progesterone are two major hormones of pregnancy. As soon as a spermatozoon fertilizes an ovum, hormonal changes begin in preparation for implantation and subsequent maintenance of pregnancy. The aim of the study was to determine if there are changes in Estrogen/Progesterone ratios (E/P) during pregnancy in different trimesters of pregnancy in Wistar rats. Twenty female Wistar rats were categorized into four different groups of five rats each. Group one (non-pregnant rats) served as the control.

The female reproductive system is responsible for pregnancy and supports development of the fetus. The incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is increasing rapidly worldwide (Wild et al., 2000). Metformin is an oral antidiabetic drug and it seems to have properties that could be beneficial in managing reproductive complications of DM. The present study determined the effect of metformin on pregnancy and fetal outcomes in Alloxan-induced diabetic female Sprague-Dawley rats. Eighty (80) pregnant rats were divided into four groups (20 rats per group).