ABSTRACT
The work investigated the protective role of vitamin E on vanadium induced neurotoxicity. Three adult female rats were divided into three groups, A-C with each dam and her pups forming a group. Group A served as control. The dam in Group B was given 3mg/kg b.w./day of vanadium from PND 1 while the Group C dam were given 3mg/kg b.w./day of vanadium, for 14 days and 500mg/kg b.w. of vitamin E 72 hourly in the same time frame. The results showed that pups from Group B, exhibited behavioural deficits in most tests, a significant reduction in body weight gain and absolute brain weight; in addition immunohistochemistry showed reactive astrogliosis induced by vanadium exposure. All these findings were however attenuated in pups whose dam was exposed to vanadium and vitamin E depicting the significant protective effects of this antioxidant against vanadium. This study is novel in that both vanadium and vitamin E were introduced through the lactation route. We conclude that though caution remains essential in the posology of vitamin E, the management of lactating mothers who have been exposed to vanadium occupationally, environmentally or therapeutically with supplementation of this antioxidant may be beneficial at least in the short term to both mother and offspring.
Subject(s)
Behavior, Animal/drug effects , Brain/drug effects , Lactation , Milk/metabolism , Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology , Neurotoxicity Syndromes/prevention & control , Vanadates/toxicity , Vitamin E/pharmacology , Animals , Astrocytes/drug effects , Astrocytes/metabolism , Astrocytes/pathology , Biomarkers/metabolism , Body Weight/drug effects , Brain/metabolism , Brain/pathology , Brain/physiopathology , Female , Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/metabolism , Immunohistochemistry , Injections, Intraperitoneal , Maternal Exposure/adverse effects , Motor Activity/drug effects , Neurotoxicity Syndromes/etiology , Neurotoxicity Syndromes/metabolism , Neurotoxicity Syndromes/pathology , Neurotoxicity Syndromes/physiopathology , Neurotoxicity Syndromes/psychology , Rats , Time Factors , Vanadates/administration & dosage , Vanadates/metabolismABSTRACT
Sixteen African giant rats (Cricetomys gambianus Waterhouse), consisting of 8 male and 8 female rats, were used to determine neurocranial measurements of the skulls. The mean neurocranial volume was 5.06 + or - 0.05 mL, neurocranial length was 3.33 + or - 0.08 cm, and the neurocranial height and index were 1.39 + or - + or - 0.04 cm and 41.74%, respectively. The mean whole skull length and height were 6.32 + or - 0.06 cm and 2.98 + or - 0.05 cm, respectively. The skull without the mandible was 1.83 + or - 0.02 cm in height, and the skull index was 28.41 + or - 0.58. The height of the skull of the African giant was approximately half (47%) of the skull length. The mean height and width of the foramen magnum were 0.78 + or - + or - 0.01 cm and 0.96 + or - 0.02 cm, respectively, while the foramen index was below 100 at 81.46 + or - 1.42. Parameters for the whole skull height and foramen magnum width showed significant difference between both sexes at p < 0.05. The foramen magnum showed shape variations and there were multiple hypoglossal foramina in over 87% of the rats. This study, in conclusion, highlighted the possibility of the estimation of the brain density and the use of the African giant rat for cranial pressure experiments.
