Performance and Histological Responses of Abino Rats Fed Moringa oleifera Seed Meal

Abstract

This study investigated the performance and histological responses of Moringa oleifera seed meal. Sixty weanling albino rats (42.35±0.83 g) randomly allotted to four diets containing 10.0% casein (T1), 10.0% raw MSM (T2), 10.0% 3-hour water-soaked MSM (WMSM, T3) and a protein-free diet (T4) fed for 21 days. Daily weight gain (DWG, g/rat), Feed Intake (FI, g/rat), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured. Kidney and liver were harvested for histological assay using standard procedures. The rats fed protein-free diet had the least DWG (- 11.30±0.11), while rats on casein diet had the highest (24.10±0.15). The FI was least in the protein-free diet (39.85±0.86) and highest in casein diet (50.46±7.86). The FCR ranged from 2.14±0.32 (casein diet) to 7.74±0.26 (raw MOS). There was mild congestion of the glomeruli and distension of the capillary vessels with numerous thrombin rats fed raw MOS (T2) and protein-free diets (T4) while rats fed casein diet (T1) and water-soaked MOS (T3) observed no vision lesion in their kidneys. However, the liver of rats fed water-soaked MOS (T3) and rats on casein diet (T1) shared mild multiple foci of coagulative necrosis, while rats fed with protein-free diet (T4),and raw MOS (T2) observed moderate congestion of the sinusoids and centrolobular veins, with slight coagulative necrosis of the hepatocytes. Rats fed on three hours water-soaked moringa seed had better feed utilisation hence no organ damages were observed.