BODY AND RECTAL TEMPERATURE CHANGES, RESPIRATORY AND HEART RATES OF NEW ZEALAND WHITE RABBITS ADMINISTERED PANAX GINSENG EXTRACTS

Abstract

High ambient temperature is one of the problems of the tropics, affecting temperatures, respiratory, and heart rates of livestock. This experiment lasted for 8 weeks and was carried out to explore the roles of Panax ginseng extracts PGEs on vital physiological parameters, which include body and rectal temperatures, respiratory and heart rates of New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits in their growing and adult phases. A total of 48 male and female (24 each) rabbits were used in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) of 3 treatments, replicated 4 times to contain 4 rabbits (2 males and 2 females) per replicate. The treatments were PGE0, PGE200 and PGE400, containing 0, 200, and 400 mg of PGEs, respectively. Body and rectal temperatures were measured using a digital clinical thermometer, while the respiratory and heart rates were measure with the aid of a stethoscope and a stopwatch. In the growing phase, respiratory rate only increased (P<0.05) in male growing rabbits on PGE400, while heart rate only increased (P<0.05) in male and female growing rabbits on PGE400.
The adult phase recorded significant (P<0.05) reductions in body and rectal temperatures of female rabbits on PGE400, while respiratory and heart rates were significantly (P<0.05) higher in male rabbits on PGE400 only. The Results of this study indicates sex related effects on the roles of PGEs on body and rectal temperatures, respiratory and heart rates of male and female NZW rabbits.