Zinc deficiency and therapeutic role of sesame seeds on some physiological aspects of reproduction and growth in pregnant rats and its neonates

The present study aimed to find the Effect of zinc deficiency on some reproductive parameters among female rats and the growth of its neonates and to assess the therapeutic role of the sesame seeds. The research contained 35 pregnant females rats they were divided into seven groups, the first was control, the second was fed diet poor in zinc, the third group added sesame to diet poor in zinc and the fourth group was treated with diet poor in zinc added to it vitamin C. Groups five, six and seven were given poor zinc diet in the first, second and third trimester, respectively. The results showed a significant decrease of Prolactin (PRL) level in studied groups except in vitamin C group which showed no significant differences in value (P≤0.05) compared with a poor zinc diet group. While there were increasing in the FSH and LH levels in all studied groups except the first week which showed no significant difference compared with a poor zinc diet. Results indicated a significant decrease in the level of Estrogen(E2) in the first and third weeks, and increased its level in vitamin C and the second week groups, while sesame seeds group showed no significant difference compared with the poor zinc diet Group. The results showed an increased level of Progesterone (PRO) significantly in the second and the third week groups and a decrease in the sesame seeds and the first week groups, and the lack of significant difference in the vitamin C group compared with the poor zinc Group. The results showed a high level of superoxide dismutase( SOD) Glutathione (GSH) and low level of malondialdehyde (MDA) significantly in the studied groups except for the second week group appeared no significant difference in the level of GSH and MDA compared with a poor zinc diet group. The results of neonates showed significant increasing in the length of the body in sesame seeds and vitamin C groups, while showed no significant differences in the group of first, second and third weeks compared to poor zinc diet. Studied groups showed also a significant increase in body weight except for the second week group which showed a significant decrease, while the third week group did not show significant differences compared with the poor zinc diet Group. The results showed a significant decrease in mortality rate and the level of MDA in the brain, liver and placenta tissue extract in all groups except the second week group which showed a significant increase in the mortality rate and the lev