The role of Pectin in controlling the changes induced by Mercuric Chloride in albino rats fetuses

The present work was planned to investigate the role of Pectin in ameliorating the morphometric, morphological and skeletal changes induced by mercury in albino rat's fetuses. 50 Wistar wistar virgin female rats were used in the present study and 25 males for mating. The results of the present work showed that the exposure of the pregnant rats to mercury chloride at a dose 5mg/kg body weight lead to significant decrease in fetal body weights as well as body and tail lengths. Also, mercury chloride administration of the pregnant rats resulted in some changes in experimental morphology of the fetuses. In addition, the fetal skeletal system was affected as follows; increase of the number of non ossified bones in the axial and peripheral systems. Pectin treatment of the pregnant rats improved the fetuses’ morphometric, morphological and skeletal changes.