Gross Morphometric Indices of the Cerebral Cortex of the Wistar Rat Following Chronic Use of Khat

Our objective was to evaluate the dose-dependent effect of khat on body and cerebral cortical indices among wistar rats on chronic administration of khat.Young adult wistar rats were randomized into controls, and three experimental groups to receive 500mg/kg, 1000mg/kg and 2000mg/kg crude khat extracts respectively. After 6 weeks of khat administration, their body and brain weights were taken, as well as cortical thickness, length and supero-inferior dimensions. The mean body weight for control group was 414.36g, and was significantly higher than rats fed on 1000mg/kg and 2000mg/kg crude khat extracts. A similar trend was observed in absolute brain weight, maximum cortical length, cortical width and supero-inferior diameter of the brains. This study found that khat has significant effect in lowering body and brain weight as well as cortical indices. This may be a marker of the effects of khat at the cellular level.