Effect of Different Doses of Volatile Oil Extract of Rosemary in Suckling Rats on Some Physiological Parameters and Pups

Background: The current study was carried out in the animal house-College of the Veterinary Medicine/University of Mosul-Iraq. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of volatile oil extract of rosemary on some physiological and reproductive parameters of suckling female rats and their pups. Methods: 24 suckling female rats were used and have been distributed randomly to four groups 6 suckling female rats for each group. The first group was considered a control group that was administered only with corn oil orally while the other groups were treated orally with volatile oil extract of rosemary 250,500, 1000 mg/kg body weight for 21 days (time of suckling). Result: Results revealed that the treatment of suckling female rats with volatile oil extract of rosemary caused a significant P less than 0.05 decrease in body weight of suckling female and its pups in 7,14,21 days of suckling time and an increase significantly P less than 0.05 the mortality of suckling female and its pups, as well as increase the growth factor of pups(days) significantly which include (open of ears, obtained of hair, obtain of teeth and opened of the eyes), compared with the control group. Doses of volatile oils extract of rosemary (250, 500, 1000 mg/kg b.w.) caused a significant P less than 0.05 increase of testicular descent and primary preputial separation of male suckling pups (days) and a decrease significantly P less than 0.05 Ano-gential distance (AGD)/mm, as well as increased vaginal opening significantly P less than 0.05 of female suckling pups compared with the control group. There was a significant decrease P less than 0.05 in each of estrogen, prolactin, FSH and LH in all doses of rosemary oil used in the study, while there was no significant difference in progesterone copared to the control group in suckling females.