Histological study on the effect of pyridoxine [vitamin B6] overdose on rat cerebral cortex

ABSTRACT

Vitamin B[6] plays vital roles in numerous metabolic processes in the human body, such as nervous system development and function. High intake of this vitamin may result in intoxication. In this study, the effect of a high dose of pyridoxine on the rat cerebral cortex was investigated. Thirty six albino rats were used in this study. The animals were divided into three groups [12 animals each]; control group that received daily intraperitoneal saline injections for 3 weeks and two experimental groups received vitamin B[6] at a dose of 5mg/kg/day intraperitoneally for three weeks. One of the two experimental groups left for 3 weeks after stoppage of the drug for recovery. Specimens from the cerebral cortex were taken and examined by both light and electron microscopy. The neuronal mitochondria demonstrated swelling with loss of matrix density. In some neurons, mitochondria demonstrated homogenously increased matrix density and some appeared disrupted. There was overall decrease of neuronal cellular processes and organelles. The neuropil appeared vacuolated. The results of the present study showed that high intake of vitamin B[6] causes damage to the rat cerebral cortex. It could be concluded that the dose of vitamin B[6] should be taken into consideration during vitamin B[6] supplementation