POSSIBLE HORMONAL ACTIVITY OF DATE PITS AND FLESH FED TO MEAT ANIMALS

Awassi Iambs fed different levels of date by-products (date pits and flesh) were observed to gain body weight faster, have higher back fat thickness and less shrinkage per cent than their corresponding control. The weight gain and back fat deposition increased with the increase of the date by-products in the animal diets. Based on these observations it was hypothesized that these by-products may contain natural anabolic agents. Therefore, date pits aqueous extract was prepared and added to a rat's uterus suspended in an organ bath containing Dejalon's solution at 37 degrees C. The free end of the uterus was threaded to an isotonic transducer connected to a MD(2) Washington recorder. The extract induced uterus contraction and its effect was not blocked by atropine or cyproheptadine but partially by prostaglandin-synthesizing inhibitors, suggesting that the extract acts in a similar fashion to oestrogens.