EFFECTS OF MULTIPARITY ON AGE-RELATED CHANGES IN FEMALE WISTAR RATS

Abstract

Effects of reproductive status on the health of aged and young multiparous female rats were pathologically, hematologically, and blood biochemically investigated. Aged females were repeatedly mated and sacrificed at 2 years of age. Young females which were pregnant from one to three times were sacrificed at weaning, and compared with nulliparous ones of the same age. Tissue calcification in the renal and cardiovascular systems was characteristically observed in the aged multiparous females, but not in the young ones. Although serum calcium level of the aged multiparous females did not change, that of the young ones revealed a consistent decrease. There were no differences of incidences in age-related changes including neoplastic and non-neoplastic changes between the multiparous and the nulliparous aged females. We concluded that multiparity induced the tissue calcification of the renal and cardiovascular systems in aged females. In addition, our result suggested that multiparity had no effect on the occurrence of age-related changes.