Healthy adult wistar strain of albino rats of both sexes,
two to three months old and weighing 150g-200g were obtained
from Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University,
Chennai. The animals were allowed to acclimatize under
laboratory conditions for a period of 5 days prior to the experiment.
Animals were housed in standard polypropylene cages. Six animals
were housed per cage, so as to provide them with sufficient space,
and to avoid unnecessary morbidity and mortality. Animals were
maintained under standard condition of 12: 12- hours light/ dark
cycle and at an ambient temperature at 23 ± 2°C, with 65 ± 5 %
humidity.