ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recent evidences suggest that cerebellar degeneration may be associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, previous reports were mainly observational, lacking substantial characterization of cellular and molecular cerebellar features during AD progression. PURPOSE: This study is aimed at characterizing the cerebellum in rat models of AD and assessing the corresponding neuroprotective mechanisms of Garcinia biflavonoid complex (GBc). METHODS: Male Wistar rats were grouped and treated alone or in combination with PBS (ad libitum)/day, corn oil (CO; 2 mL/kgBw/day), GBc (200 mg/kgBw/day), sodium azide (NaN3) (15 mg/kgBw/day) and aluminium chloride (AlCl3) (100 mg/kgBw/day). Groups A and B received PBS and CO, respectively; C received GBc; D received NaN3; E received AlCl3; F received NaN3 then GBc subsequently; G received AlCl3 then GBc subsequently; H received NaN3 and GBc simultaneously while I received AlCl3 and GBc simultaneously. Following treatments, cerebellar cortices were processed for histology, immunohistochemistry and colorimetric assays. RESULTS: Our data revealed that cryptic granule neurons and pyknotic Purkinje cell bodies (characterized by short dendritic/axonal processes) correspond to indistinctly demarcated cerebellar layers in rats treated with AlCl3 and NaN3. These correlates, with observed hypertrophic astrogliosis, increased the neurofilament deposition, depleted the antioxidant system-shown by expressed superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, and cerebellar glucose bioenergetics dysfunction-exhibited in assayed lactate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. We further showed that GBc reverses cerebellar degeneration through modulation of neurochemical signaling pathways and stressor molecules that underlie AD pathogenesis. CONCLUSION: Cellular, molecular and metabolic neurodegeneration within the cerebellum is associated with AlCl3 and NaN3-induced AD while GBc significantly inhibits corresponding neurotoxicity and is more efficacious when pre-administered.
ABSTRACT
We tested the hypothesis that Moringa oleifera impairs the morphology and functions of the kidney in rats. Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were employed in the study. Rats of Control Group I received physiological saline while rats of Groups II IV received 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg bodyweight of methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera respectively for twenty one days. No behavioral anomalies were observed in rats of Groups I IV. Rats of Control Group I gained statistically significant increased bodyweight while rats of Groups II IV experienced non-significant decreased bodyweight during experimental procedure. (P0.05). No statistical significant differences (P0.05) were observed in the analyses of the relative weights of kidneys of rats of Groups I IV. Histological examinations showed normal cyto-architecture of the kidneys of rats of Group I while the Capsular spaces of the kidneys of rats of Groups II IV appeared wider than those of Group I. Statistical analyses showed significant higher levels (P0.05) of Alanine and Aspartate Transaminases, and serum urea in rats of Groups II IV in a non- dose-dependent manner when compared to rats of Group I. Our findings are consistent with the stated hypothesis.
Se puso a prueba la hipótesis que Moringa oleifera altera la morfología y función del riñón en ratas. Fueron utilizadas 24 ratas Wistar macho adultas. El grupo control recibió suero fisiológico mientras que los Grupos II a IV recibieron 250, 500 y 750 mg/kg peso corporal del extracto metanólico de Moringa oleifera respectivamente, durante 21 días. No se observaron anomalías en el comportamiento en ratas de los Grupos I - IV. En las ratas del grupo de control se registró un aumento de peso corporal estadísticamente significativo, mientras que las ratas de los grupos II - IV experimentaron una disminución no significativa de peso corporal durante el procedimiento experimental (P0,05). No se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas (P0,05) en el análisis de los pesos relativos en riñones de las ratas de los grupos I - IV. Los exámenes histológicos mostraron citoarquitectura normal de los riñones de las ratas del grupo I, mientras que en ratas de los grupos II IV los espacios capsulares de los riñones aparecían más amplios que los del Grupo I. Los análisis estadísticos mostraron niveles superiores significativos ( P 0,05 ) de la alanina y aspartato aminotransferasa, y de urea en suero en ratas de los Grupos II - IV no dependiente de la dosis, en comparación con las ratas del Grupo I. Estos resultados coinciden con la hipótesis planteada.
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Plant Extracts/toxicity , Moringa oleifera , Kidney/drug effects , Organ Size/drug effects , Aspartate Aminotransferases/analysis , Aspartate Aminotransferases/drug effects , Urea/analysis , Rats, Wistar , Alanine Transaminase/analysis , Alanine Transaminase/drug effectsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Albendazole is used as an anthelmintic in the treatment of some parasitic infections. This study determined how the effects of albendazole on liver enzymes are influenced by diet. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Thirty adult male Wistar rats of mean weight 304.12 ± 11.34 g were randomly grouped into five: Group A: Control, was given rat pellets and water only; Group B received 15 mg/kg/d of albendazole while fasting; Group C received 15 mg/kg/d of albendazole with fatty meal; Group D received 15 mg/kg/d of albendazole with normal diet (rat pellets); and, Group E received 30 mg/kg/d of albendazole with normal diet (rat pellets); they were given orally for 3 consecutive days. The animals were sacrificed thereafter and blood samples obtained for quantitative study of the serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). RESULTS: Significant elevation in the serum levels of the transaminases especially in animals which were on their normal diet (rat pellets), while ALP was either reduced or increased based on dietary factors. CONCLUSIONS: Oral administration of albendazole before meal or with a fatty diet could help limit severe elevation of liver enzymes associated with its use, while still ensuring optimal efficacy.
