ABSTRACT

The effect of prolonged use of Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid) on growth performance, blood characteristics, testicular and ovarian histology of male and female rabbits was investigated in this experiment that lasted for 4 months. The experiment was in 2 trials, trial A- female, trial B- male. The animals were randomly assigned to 3 treatments of 3 replicates each. The control group, Ti received no Clomiphene citrate, the second treatment group T2 received 6.25mg of Clomiphene citrate, while the third treatment group T3 received 12.5 mg of Clomiphene citrate. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with the levels of drugs as treatment and sex as block. Results showed that there was no significant difference (P> 0.05) in body weight gain, internal organs; kidney, liver, spleen and lungs between treatments. Considering the males, there was significant difference in the White Blood Cell, PCV, Monocytes and Albumin levels between treatments (P<0.05).However, Total protein was not significantly different (P>0.05). While in females, body weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) higher in Ti (69.88 ± i.36g) than in T2 (66.14 ± 3.12g) and in T3 (56.38 ± i.71g). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly higher (P<0.05) in Ti (6.90 ± 0.70) than in T3 and T2 which were similar (P>0.05). There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in some of the Haemetological parameters tested PCV, WBC, RBC, Basophils and Eosinophils. However, haemoglobin (Hb),neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes were significantly different (P<0.05) between treatments. The Hb was higher (P<0.05) in Ti (9.52 ± 1.28) than T2 and T3 though T3 was slightly higher than T2 (8.02 ± 0.61 and 6.90 ± 0.69 respectively). Considering the biochemical parameters, Total Protein, Albumin and Alanine Amino Transaminase (ALT) were not significantly different (P>0.05) while Aspartate Amino Transaminase (AST) and Alkaline Phosphate (ALP) were significantly different (P<0.05) between treatments. The results showed a significantly (P<0.05) higher AST in T3 (40.00 ± 5.25 iull) then followed by TI (31.25 ± 7.08 iu/l) and then T2 (28.25 ± 5.58 iull). In ALP the T3 was also significantly higher (P<0.05) (68.00 ± 13.37 lu/i) while it was similar (P>0.05) in T2 (56.25 ± 16.31 iu/l) and Ti (59.25 ± 15.25 iull). However looking at the histopathological pictures plate 1, Ti had normal ovulation with well developed ovary while the ovaries of T2 and 13 were destroyed, no ovulation took place. Conclusively, higher intake of Ciomiphene citrate has an adverse effect on the age of rabbits. The dosage should not exceed 6.25mg and also the use of Clomiphene citrate which is to have multiple births or to induce ovulation will not be realized rather it will lead to destruction of the ovaries and inflammation of the sex organs thus its use should not be prolonged.