Introduction. Calabash chalk contains heavy metals, and this lead to this study on the effect of this chalk on the behavior and the histomorphology of the cerebral cortex of gestating rats. Material & Methods. 24 female rats were equally divided into 4 groups and were mated at preostrous with the males. The day after mating was designated as day 1 of gestation. On gestation days 7–20, groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 animals were treated with 1？mL of distilled water, and 1？mL (200？mg/kg), 2？mL (400？mg/kg), and 3？mL (600？mg/kg) of calabash chalk suspension, respectively. On pregnancy day 21, behavioral tests using the open field and the light/dark mazes were carried out and the animals subsequently euthanized and their brains were routinely processed. Results. There was no difference in ambulatory activities, but group 4 animals had more ( ) transition frequency and were more averse to the dark in the light and dark field, while sections of the cerebral cortex showed a higher ( ) cellular population, hypertrophied pyramidal cells, and vacuolations in the treatment groups. Conclusion. Calabash chalk may have anxiolytic effect especially at high dose in the light and dark field but not in the open field and can stimulate maternal cerebral cortical cellular changes. 1. Introduction Geophagy is the practice of eating soil, clay, or chalk, a form of pica [1, 2]. This practice is in place in almost every part of the world, although less frequent in developed societies [3, 4]. Geophagy occurs with animals, as well as humans, in both sexes, and in all races [5]. It is most often seen in rural or preindustrial societies among children and pregnant women [4, 6, 7]. Clay consumption is correlated with pregnancy, and some women eat clay to eliminate nausea, possibly because the clay coats the gastrointestinal tract [8, 9]. This process may also result in the absorption of dangerous toxins and eggs of parasites that may have been passed in animal faeces [10, 11]. Occupation, marital status, and gestational age are factors associated with geophagy. Anaemia and red blood cell characteristics suggestive of iron deficiency, as well as Ascaris lumbricoides infection, are some of the other factors associated with geophagy [10]. One other complication of the act of geophagy is “geophagic syndrome,” which is marked by growth retardation, delayed sexual maturity, and liver and spleen enlargements [12]. The act of geophagy is a common practice in Nigeria and some other subsaharan African countries [10]. One of such is the eating of a clay and chalk mixture called calabash chalk. Calabash
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