Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: Mosquito coil is one of the preferred anti-mosquito products in low income communities because it is cheap and readily available. Burning mosquito coil generates smoke that can repel mosquitoes effectively. However, the smoke contains pollutants that could be detrimental to health. This study was designed to investigate the possible effects that exposure to mosquito coil smoke could have on shortterm memory. Twenty-eight (28) adult male Wistar rats were grouped randomly into four of seven animals each. The control, 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours of mosquito coil smoke exposure per day. The exposure to the mosquito coil fumes was in a partially ventilated chamber for 21 consecutive days. Novel object recognition test was employed to determine short-term memory in the animals. Brain tissue specimens were collected and fixed in Bouin’s fluid and processed for histological examination. The 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours smoke exposed showed significant preference for familial objects. The histological examination of the hippocampus showed normal cellular architecture in the control while neuronal degenerations were observed in the experimental groups. Exposure to mosquito coil fumes for 21 days impaired short-term memory in addition to neurodegenerative changes in the hippocampus of adult Wistar rats.
Source: NIgerian Journal of Neuroscience
Authors: Mahmood Usman, Adebayo Buraimoh, Ahmed-Sherif Isa, Abubakar S. Adamu, Muhammad M. Muhammad, Haruna D. Umar
Institutions: Ahmadu Bello University, Kaduna State University, Baze University
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4411001271