The Immunohistochemical Localization Of Bax In The Brain Of Hypothyroid Neonate During Maternal Melatonin Intake

ABSTRACT

Objective: To immunohistochemically localize Bax proteins in pyramidal cells of cerebral cortex in hypothyroidneonates and to observe the effect of melatonin on these cells.Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.Place and duration of study Animal House and Anatomy Department at University of Health Sciences, Lahore.Material and Methods: Nine female wistar rats were randomly divided equally into three groups, includingcontrol(A), propylthiouracyl(B), melatonin treated propylthiouracyl (C) group and allowed to conceive. Medicationwas given throughout pregnancy and lactation. After delivery, 10 neonatal rats from each group were sacrificedon 22nd day of life and blood samples were immediately collected from the cardiac region for evaluating serumlevels of TSH. The freshly extracted brains were immediately immersed in neutral buffered formalin for 3 weeksand later further processed. 3 m thick sections were sliced from cerebrum, deparaffinized and rehydrated, thenwashed in phosphate buffered saline and subsequently treated with primary and secondary antibodies.Results: PTU group had significant number of pyramidal neurons in cerebral cortex showing signs of apoptosis,whereas melatonin treated group showed reversal of these signs. Moreover, on serum analysis, the pups of damstaking PTU were severely hypothyroid whereas melatonin treated pups showed significant restoration of serumTSH levels.Conclusion: Melatonin preserves the structure and function of pyramidal neurons of cerebral cortex of neonatesif ingested by hypothyroid mothers during gestation and lactation.