Effects of aluminum on rat cerebellar cortex and the possible protective role of Nigella sativa: a light and electron microscopic study

Aluminum [AL] is toxic to the central nervous system, and Nigella sativa [NS] reduces lipid peroxidation by its antioxidant activity. To investigate the effects of AL treatment on rat cerebellar cortex and the possible protective role of NS. Twenty-five adult male albino rats were divided into five groups: a control group, an NS-treated group, which received NS oil [1ml/kg] orally for 1.5 months, an AL-treated group, which received AL chloride daily [320mg/kg] for 1.5 months, an AL+NS group, which received NS with AL for 1.5 months at the same previous doses, and a withdrawal group, which received AL at the same previous dose for 1.5 months and was left for withdrawal for 1.5 months. Specimens of the cerebellar cortex were processed for light microscopic, electron microscopic, and immunohistochemical study. Morphometric and statistical analysis was carried out. The NS-treated group was very similar to the control group. After the administration of AL, the cerebellum showed a significant reduction in the number of Purkinje cells, which appeared irregular with a darkly stained cytoplasm. The ultrastructure showed Purkinje cells with cytoplasmic vacuolation, dilatation of Golgi cisternae, and mitochondria with dilated cristae. Granule cells showed mitochondria with destroyed cristae. The immune reaction for caspase-3 was intense compared with that of the control group. Administration of NS with AL showed an observable protection against these changes. The withdrawal group showed Purkinje cells that were irregular and darkly stained and their ultrastrucure showed mitochondria with destroyed cristae, but these changes were less marked than those in the AL-treated group. NS may play a protective role against AL-induced cerebellar toxicity in humans

Effect of aflatoxin-B1 on rat cerebellar cortex: light and electron microscopic study

Introduction: Aflatoxin contamination of foods is a worldwide problem, especially in developing countries. The effects of aflatoxins on the cerebellum are not well studied

Aim of the study: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible neurotoxic effects of aflatoxin B1 on the cerebellar cortex of adult male albino rats

Materials and methods: A total of 30 adult female albino rats were used. They were divided into two groups. Group I [10 animals] was allowed water ad libitum and fed a standard diet [negative control]. Group II [20 animals] was administered 5 ml aflatoxin B1 orally by a gastric tube every week for 8 consecutive weeks. Samples from the cerebella were taken and processed for light and electron microscopic investigation

Results: Light microscopic examination of the cerebellar cortex of aflatoxin-treated animals showed its prominent neurotoxic effect on the Purkinje cell layer, with less effect on the granular and molecular layers. Glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive cells were more abundant in the three cortical layers of treated animals compared with the control animals. Ultrastructural study of the cerebellum of the aflatoxin-treated group showed dilated Golgi complex and accumulation of secondary lysosomes in association with nuclear shrinkage and irregularity within Purkinje cells. Many myelinated nerve fibers and nerve cell processes in the molecular and granular layer belonging to the affected nerve cells showed degenerative changes

Conclusion: It could be concluded according to this study that aflatoxin B1 has a neurotoxic effect on the cerebellar cortex of adult female albino rats

Effect of selenium in ameliorating the effect of induced perinatal hypothyroidism on postnatal rat cerebellar cortex development: a histological and immunohistochemical study

Background: Thyroid hormone plays a key role in the development of the cerebellar cortex. Selenium is a nutritional element with antioxidant and neuroprotective properties

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of selenium on the structural impairment of postnatal rat cerebellar cortex development induced by perinatal experimental hypothyroidism

Materials and methods: Pups from 20 pregnant rats were divided into four equal groups: group I: negative control group, group II: methimazole-induced hypothyroid group, group III: selenium-supplemented hypothyroid group, and group IV: selenium-supplemented group [positive control]. Treatment continued from gestational day 14 to postnatal day [P] 14. At P7, P14, and P28, blood samples were collected for assessment of serum thyroid hormone and right cerebellar hemisphere specimens were processed for histological, immunohistochemical, and morphometric procedures

Results: Pups of hypothyroid group showed a retarded postnatal cerebellar cortex development, more apparent at P7 and P14, evidenced by increased thickness of the external granular layer and delayed alignment and differentiation of Purkinje cells in addition to reduced proliferating cell nuclear antigen and increased caspase 3-immunoreactivity. At P28, dark cell degeneration of most Purkinje cells was observed. A significant decrease in the thickness of the molecular and internal granular layers and of the number and surface area of Purkinje cells was observed in all postnatal ages studied. Glial fibrillary acidic protein immunostaining showed increased positive astrocytes with twisting and thickening of their glial fibers. Selenium caused a marked amelioration of most of these structural alterations

Conclusion: Perinatal hypothyroidism impaired postnatal cerebellar cortex development. Selenium should be used as a dietary supplement during pregnancy, particularly in hypothyroid conditions

Toxic effect of cisplatin on cerebellar cortex and spinal cord of adult male albino rat and the possible role of vitamin E: light and electron microscopic study

The nervous system is frequently the site of symptomatic toxicity of antineoplastic agents, cisplatin is a widely used potent chemotherapeutic agent that is highly neurotoxic. It has been proven that it is able to generate reactive oxygen species and inhibit the activity of antioxidant enzymes. This study was carried out to demonstrate the neurotoxic effects of cisplatin on the structure of adult rat cerebellum and spinal cord, and the role of vitamin E which has been shown to ameliorate hephro, oto and neurotoxicities induced by cisplatin. Thirty adult male albino rats weighing 200-250 gm were divided into three groups: Group one: kept as a control. Group two: animals treated with cisplatin at a dose of 4mg/kg twice weekly by intraperitoneal injection, for one month. Group three: animals treated with vitamin E at a dose of 100mg/kg by intramuscular injection in concomitant with cisplatin twice weekly for one month. Animals were sacrificed and their cerebella and spinal cords were processed for light and electron microscopy. Morphometrical and statistical study was done for the mean number, as well as the mean surface area of Purkinje cells and mean surface area of their nuclei. The histological approach revealed marked degenerative changes in the Purkinje cells and motor ceurons of cisplatin treated animals [Group II]. Some of these cells appeared irregular with deeply stained cytoplasm and pykontic nuclei. Ultrastructural examination showed Purkinje cells with cellular shrinkage, damaged organelles and irregular nuclei with electron dense karyoplasms. Significant degenerative changes in the motor neurons and blood capillaries of the anterior horn of the spinal cord in the same group were frequently observed. Morphometric evaluations demonstrated significant decrease in the mean number and the mean surface area of nuclei and cell bodies of Purkinje cells. These structural and morphometrical alterations were much less observed in concomitant use of vitamin E with cisplatin [Group III]. Cerebellum and spinal cord are considered the target areas of cisplatin neurotoxicity, while vitamin E, when used in combination with cisplatin displays a protective action against neurotoxicity

Assessing a Dysplastic Cerebellar Gangliocytoma (Lhermitte-Duclos Disease) with 7T MR Imaging

Lhermitte-Duclos disease (LDD; dysplastic cerebellar gangliocytoma) is a rare hamartomatous lesion of the cerebellar cortex and this was first described in 1920. LDD is considered to be part of the autosomal-dominant phacomatosis and cancer syndrome Cowden disease (CS). We examined the brain of a 46-year-old man, who displayed the manifestations of CS, with 7 Tesla (T) and 1.5T MRI and 1.5T MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS). We discuss the possible benefits of employing ultrahigh-field MRI for making the diagnosis of this rare lesion.

Effects of acute immobilization stress on vermal cerebellar cortex of young male rats

The purpose of this study was to observe the morphological changes in vermal cerebellar cortex of young male rats with special reference to Perkinje cell after exposure to acute immobilization stress. An experimental study. Department of Anatomy CPSP Regional Centre, Islamabad, from August 2006 to July 2007. A total of sixty young male Sprague Dawley rats were taken and divided equally in two groups [n=30 in each] A= control B= experimental. Experimental group was kept in restrainer for 24 hours continuously, one rat per restrainer separately. At the end of the experiment, all the animals of both groups A and B were anesthetized and sacrificed for the removal of cerebellum, which was fixed in 10% farmalin. Histological evaluation of sections was done after staining with Hematoxylin and Eosin. The observations were recorded in the central folium of the vermal cerebellar cortex in a specified area i.e. in front of the fissura prima. Significant decrease in total cell count and cell size was found in experimental group as compared with control. Although increase in thickness of vermal cerebellar cortex and molecular layer was observed in stressed animals but no significant association was seen between experimental and control animals. Number of dark cells was found more in stressed animals as compared with control however it was insignificant. Immobilization stress can cause the neuronal injury

Histological and immunohistochemical studies on the cerebellar cortex of adult male albino rats treated with griseofulvin

Griseofulvin was the first oral anti-fungal drug available for treatment of dermatophytosis. Neurological side effects including neuropathies, confusion, vertigo, eyesight disorders and fatigue may occur due to its use. Twenty adult male albino rats, each weighing 100-150 gm were used to study the toxic effects of griseofulvin administration on the histological structure of cerebellar cortex. They were classified equally into four groups. The first group: was used as a negative control group, the second group: was used as a positive control group, each rat was given 1 mL olive oil orally daily for 12 weeks, the third group: each rat was given griseofulvin orally [dissolved in olive oil in a dose of 2500 mg/kg body weight [1/20 of LD 50]for 6 weeks and the fourth group: each rat was given griseofulvin orally [dissolved in olive oil in a dose of 2500 mg/kg body weight [1/20 of LD 50] for 12 weeks. At the time of sacrifice all the animals were anaesthetized with ether inhalation and their cerebelli were carefully dissected and processed for paraffin sections then stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Weelecks procedure and modified aldehyde thionine technique to study the general structures. Immunohistochemical stain with astroglial marker antibody Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein was also used. In griseofulvin-treated animals of the third group, there was distortion of some Purkinje cells with loss of their dendritic arbirization and they were separated from each other. In treated animals of the fourth group, some Purkinje cells were more distorted and separated by wide spaces. The molecular layer appeared with scattered cells and less abundant nerve fibers in between. Immunohistochemically, tile treated animals of the third group showed Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein positive astrocytes in the molecular and granular layers. In the fourth group, there were Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein more positive astrocytes. The results of the current study revealed that, administration of griseofulvin for a long time induced adverse effects on the histological structure of the cerebellar cortex of adult male albino rats

Aspecto citológico de tumores intracranianos e do canal vertebral / Cytologic aspects of intracranial and spinal canal tumors

We present the cytologic aspects of 137 tumors operated by neurosurgeons, including 12 astrocytomas, 4 anaplastic astrocytomas, 26 glioblastomas, 7 oligodendrogliomas, 5 medulloblastomas, 8 schwannomas, 17 meningiomas, 13 pituitary adenomas, 20 metastatic tumors and 18 assorted tumors and nonneoplastic lesions. We have also analysed cytologically samples of normal nervous tissue obtained from autopsies, aiming at its recognition and distinction from the neoplastic tissue in biopsies. The tumors were analysed in smears which were subsequently compared with the histological sections. Although it is important to observe cytological details in the tumor, occasionally cells are arranged in such a way, that an overview of the smear practically allows the diagnosis of the tumor.

Nota sobre as alteraçöes dos córtices cerebral e cerebelar no alcoolismo crônico / Cerebral and cerebellar cortices changes in chronic alcoholism

O estudo dos córtices cerebral cerebelar de 23 pacientes alcoólatras crônicos reveleu, no cérebro, macroscopicamente, atrofia cortical com adelgaçamento dos giros e largamento dos sulcos, notadamente no córtice frontal. Presente hidrocefalia interna do tipo "exvacuo" nos prolongamentos dos ventrículos laterais. No cerebelo ocorreru o desnudamento do pedúnculo cerebelar médio. Nunca constatamos atrofia do vermis cerebelar, macroscopicamente visível. O corpo caloso e a ponte do cérebro eram aparentemente normais. O estudo microscópico do córtice cerebral revelou importante perda da populaçäo neuronal e no cerebelar constatou-se a degeneraçäo dos grânulos e das células de Purkinje. Estas alteraçöes, macro e microscópicas, näo eram encontradiças em todos os casos. Estabeleceu-se a sua etiologia como alcoólica pela näo existência de outras patologias que pudessem explicá-las