Abstract:
This study include two experiments: the first experiment was designed to
determine the effects of aniseed oil administration during the last trimester of
gestation on mammary gland development and milk synthesis during lactation
period. Twenty pregnant rats, at the 15th day of pregnancy, were randomly divided
into two equal groups as: control group (10 animals) received tap water orally and
treated (10 animals) group received aniseed oil orally (0.043 gm kg-1 B.w) during
the last week of gestation, at parturition, five animals from each group were
scarified and their mammary gland weight (MGwW%) was recorded. The
remaining animals (5 animals group-1) were allowed to suckle their litters for the
first eleventh days of lactation period. At eleventh day of lactation the litters weight
gains (LWGs%) and litters stomach weight (LSwW%) was calculated. The result
revealed significantly increased of the three parameters (MGwW%; LWGs%;
LSwW%) in treated group as compared to control. The second experiment was
designed to investigate the mechanism of action of aniseed oil. Fifteen female rats,
at five weeks of age, were randomly divided into three equal groups, treated for two
weeks as follow: group I ovariectomized (OA) rats received aniseed oil (0.043 gm
kg-1 B.w.); group II intact (IA) rats received aniseed oil (0.043 gm kg-1 B.w.); group
III sham operated (S) control rats received tap water. Four parameters; mammary
gland weight%, uterine weight%, follicular stimulating hormone and lutenizing
hormone (MGwW%, UwW%, FSH and LH levels) were employed. This
investigation showed that MGwW% and UwW% were highest in IA, while the OA
rats showed the highest levels of FSH and LH. In conclusion, aniseed oil it induces
mammogenesis, lactogenesis and galactopoieses, most probably by its indirect
action on the mammary glands.
