GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF FEMALE Rattus norvegicus TO DIETARY Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The nutritional and physiological impacts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) supplementation were evaluated in female Rattus norvegicus by assessing feed intake, water consumption, weight gain, haematological indices, serum biochemical markers, and antioxidant status. Despite its established use in livestock, limited data exist on its effects in laboratory rodents. In this study, twenty (20) adult female Albino rats were assigned into four (4) groups (n=5) and administered 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 g/kg body weight of S. cerevisiae orally for 35 days. Feed intake, water consumption, and body weight were monitored weekly. On day 36, samples of blood were collected for haematological, biochemical, and antioxidant analysis. Initial results showed a transient increase in feed and water intake in low to moderate-dose groups, but a sustained decline was observed in higher doses. Group D (1.5 g/kg) recorded significantly reduced cumulative feed (321.60 g), water intake (606.02 ml), and weight gain (65.72 g) compared to control (p < 0.05). Haematological parameters remained largely stable, although basophils, eosinophils, and monocytes declined significantly with increasing dose. Serum biochemistry revealed a dosedependent reduction in fasting glucose and urea levels, while calcium and phosphorus increased significantly. Antioxidant markers such as SOD, CAT, and GPX were significantly elevated, whereas MDA levels decreased across the treated groups. These findings highlight that S. cerevisiae exerts dose-dependent effects on physiological responses in female rats, improving antioxidant activity but potentially suppressing intake and weight gain at higher doses.