Effects of honey supplementation during prenatal stress on reproductive system of female rat offspring

Exposure to prenatal stress is associated with an impaired reproductive function in female rat offspring. Honey is traditionally used by the Malays for enhancement of fertility. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of honey on the reproductive system of female rat offspring exposed to prenatal restraint stress. Dams were divided into four groups (n = 10/group): control, honey, stress and honey + stress groups. Dams from honey and honey + stress groups received oral honey (1.2 g kg-1 body weight) daily from day 1 of pregnancy; meanwhile, dams from stress and honey + stress groups were subjected to restraint stress (three times per day) from day 11 of pregnancy until delivery. At ten weeks old, each female rat offspring was mated with a normal male. Female sexual behaviour and pregnancy outcomes were evaluated. Then, female rats were euthanised for assessment on reproductive parameters. Honey supplementation during prenatal restraint stress significantly increased oestradiol level and improved the number of lordosis and lordosis quotient in female rat offspring. In conclusion, this study might suggest that supplementation of honey during pregnancy seems to reduce the adverse effects of prenatal restraint stress on the level of oestradiol, the number of lordosis and lordosis quotient in female rat offspring.