Abstract
BACKGROUND: Productivity is primarily determined by the ability of the mother to produce healthy, strong, and optimally developed offspring from the zygote to birth, ultimately improving postnatal growth and health. The mother's health is a primary support system in reproductive health, as reflected in the values of body weight, estrogen and progesterone, uterus, ovaries, and vascularization, all of which are crucial in enhancing reproductive performance. Harpodon nehereus and Chlorella vulgaris have compounds that can enhance and repair reproductive health and performance. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of H. nehereus and C. vulgaris supplementation on increasing the body weight and performance of female rats from pre-pregnancy to pregnancy. METHODS: Nulliparous and sexually mature female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to an experimental study with a completely randomized design. Female virgin rats weighing 150-200 g were divided into seven dose groups: P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, and P7. Each group of virgin female rats was given a predetermined treatment dose. The main ingredients of the treatment feed are fishmeal, H. nehereus, and C. vulgaris. The observed variables included body weight, estrogen and progesterone levels, uterus, ovaries, and vascularization. RESULTS: The results showed increased estrogen and progesterone levels in the H. nehereus and C. vulgaris flour treatment group. Supplementation of experimental rats with H. nehereus and C. vulgaris fishmeal increased estrogen and progesterone levels, primary and secondary follicles, and uterine gland development. CONCLUSION: Additionally, maternal vascularization increased after supplementation treatment. Rats' body weight before and after pregnancy did not differ significantly across all treatments (p > 0.05). Estrogen and progesterone levels increased in the test animals. The number of primary follicles, secondary follicles, and vascularization significantly differed (p < 0.05) in all treatment groups compared with the control.