Impact of Eliozu Port Harcourt Landfill Leachate on Some Reproductive Hormones in Female Wistar Rats

Abstract

Pollution of water sources by leachate and the toxicity that ensues have been reported globally. However, there is still need to evaluate its effects on reproductive hormones; considering the influence of environment on reproduction and the increasing number of infertility cases in the society. In this study therefore, the effect of landfill leachate at Eliozu in Port Harcourt Nigeria on some female reproductive hormones were evaluated using Wistar rats as experimental model. Twenty-five rats were grouped divided into five groups with five rats each. Group 1 served as control and received 1 ml of commercially bottled water, group 2 received 1ml of water from borehole about 1 km from the landfill; while groups 3, 4 and 5 received 1ml of 10%, 50% and 100% concentrations of leachate once daily for 30 consecutive days. All administrations were through oral gavage and animals were handled in line with guidelines for experimental animal care and handling. At the end of 30-days administrations, the animals were anaesthetized and about 4 ml of blood was collected through cardiac puncture; serum obtained was used to determine the serum concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, progesterone and estrogen. Results showed that leachate exposure at various concentrations caused a significant decrease in FSH, LH and prolactin p≤0.05; and a significant increase in progesterone and estrogen compared with the control group p≤0.05. This study therefore concludes that leachate could alter female reproductive hormones.