EFFECT OF DIETARY-INTAKE OF PIPER GUINEENSE ON GROWTH AND INDEXES OF FITNESS IN RATTUS-RATTUS

A total of 270 albino wistar rats were used in this study. The rats wh ich were 5-6 weeks old with a mean weight of 47.84 +/- 2.45g were indi vidually housed and fed on various levels of P. guineense supplemented diet for 56 days. Water was given nd libitum. Body weight data was re corded weekly. At the end of eight weeks, blood samples were collected and haematological and biochemical analyses carried out. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in weight gain between experimental and control subjects. Control rats recorded higher gain in weight. Hae matological and biochemical analysis showed a reduction in the values of packed cell volume (PCV), red blood corpuscles (RBC), haemoglobin ( Hb) and plasma glucose. There was an increase in white blood corpuscle s (WBC) and plasma protein in a dose related manner.