Browsing by Author "Ssempijja Fred"

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    The Effect of IMPERATA CYLINDRICA (L.) P. BEAUV. on Some Neuropathological Features of Drosophila Melanogaster Transg Enic Flies Overexpressing the Paralytic Gene
    (Kampala International University, 2017-08) Ssempijja Fred
    Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder associated with excessive neuronal discharges with a global prevalence was 3% (Reid et al. 2012). Africa has 20-23% of those cases and the prevalence in Uganda was at 1.3% with an incidence of 156 cases per 100,000 each year (Diop et al., 2003). The commonest form of epilepsy is an abnormality in the brain Na+ channels (Howlett et al. 2013) as occurs in the established Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster) model for epilepsy called bang-sensitive paralytic flies (parabss) that overexpress the paralytic gene. Imperata cylindrica root extract is nuropreotective (Xuan et al., 2013) and is used by Luo people in Kenya and Uganda to manage epileptic fits (personal communication); the herb controls seizures in parabss flies by reducing Na+ and K+ channel activity (Oginga, 2016). Brain anatomical changes, muscular activity as well as changes in learning and memory function that could arise in these flies from use of the herb as an anti-epileptic molecule during acute and chronic control of seizures were the objectives of our study. Learning and memory response was studied by an Aversive Phototaxic Suppression (APS) Assay (Ali et al., 2011); muscular activity was studied by use of a SpikerBox on dorso-longitudinal flight muscles (Backyard Brains, 2012); and brain histomorphological changes were analysed on brain tissues using Haematoxylin and Eosin plus Klüvers staining techniques (Sheehan and Hrapchak, 1980; Fischer et al., 2008). The transgenic flies overexpressing paralytic gene reproduce the phenotype of the established Drosophila melanogaster model for epilepsy (parabss) and are therefore a model for seizures. Our results have further confirmed the promise of Imperata cylindrica as an anti-epileptic drug and have shown that not only treats the convulsions but ameliorates associated electrophysiological and cognitive malfunctions. The extract also ameliorated the abnormal brain histomorphology after prolonged treatment. This indicates that the extract has neuroprotective compounds (Xuan et al., 2013) that ameriolated the neuropathological features in the transgenic flies overexpressing the paralytic gene. There was only relief of symptoms in acute exposure treatments unlike in chronic exposure treatments where the extract and sodium valproate cured the brain cellular biological defects leading to associated improvement in cognitive and electrophysiological properties in agreement with Michno et al., 2005; Howlett, 2013. Further studies on action and toxicity are vital on bio-active compounds of the extract using advanced techniques like advanced molecular techniques, neuroimaging and immunohistochemistry. The information got in our study should be availed to the community for their benefit.