Effects of consumption of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) from Laguna de Bay on the uterus of ovariectomized ICR mouse.

The uterotrophic effect of dietary exposure to tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) and walking catfish ( Clarias batrachus ) from Laguna de Bay was determined using ovariectomized ICR mice. Ninety-five 6-week old ovariectomized mice were randomly allocated into the following seven treatments: 1) distilled water (negative control); 2) 1% homogenized catfish meat; 3) 3% homogenized catfish meat; 4) 1% homogenized tilapia meat; 5) 3% homogenized tilapia meat; 6) 1% homogenized catfish roe; and 7) 1% homogenized tilapia roe. Treatment was administered via gavage three times a week for 28 days. Tilapia meat (3%) and catfish roe (1%) significantly increased uterine wet and relative weight whereas tilapia roe (1%) only increased uterine wet weight (P<0.05). Tilapia (3%) and catfish meat (3%) led to greater uterine epithelial and myometrial thickness, respectively (P<0.05). Weight gain, feed consumption and uterine width were unaffected by the treatments. The results are suggestive of fish contamination with estrogenic chemicals in the lake. The observed estrogenic effects brought about by the consumption of contaminated fish could have potential health implications. Key words: catfish, Laguna de Bay, mouse, tilapia, uterus