Department of Human Anatomy
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- ItemHippocampal pyramidal cell degeneration and changes in CREB protein in Datura stramonium treated rats(American Journal of Neuroscience, 2015-09-11) Sunday, Dare S.Datura Stramonium (DS) is a tropical shrub which is available worldwide. It has various uses and is often used to increase the intoxication of certain beverages. The seeds of this plant are very toxic but are commonly smoked in like manner as tobacco. The present study investigated the potential harmful effects of DS on pyramidal cells and CREB protein in the hippocampus of Wistar rats in order to further elucidate the effects of DS seed extract on hippocampal structure. The study was conducted on both male and female Wistar rats (200-250 g). They were first divided into three batches, which were further sub-divided into four groups in each batch with eight animals per group. Ethanolic extract of dried seeds of DS was diluted in normal saline and given to the treatment groups. The treated groups received intraperitoneal administration (i.p.) of 750 mg kg−1 (Bania et al., 2004) of diluted DS seed extracts, once in batch 1, twice in batch 2 and thrice in batch 3 per day respectively for 4 weeks while the control groups received an equivalent of normal saline. The rats were euthanized and Western blot analysis used to evaluate the levels of CREB protein in the rats’ hippocampi. Sections of each hippocampus were histologically processed in all the groups and silver impregnation stain for degenerating axons and neurons was used to elucidate the actions of DS on the pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus. The result of i.p. administration of DS extract (750 mg kg−1) given three times per day to the treated rats showed significant histological changes such as axonal atrophy, cytoplasmic vacuolation and neuronal necrosis of the pyramidal cells of the hippocampus, as well as an increase in CREB protein levels in both male and female rats. Excessive ingestion of DS seeds, therefore, may lead to hippocampal pyramidal cell losses and an increase in CREB protein levels in the hippocampus. This may be implicated in neurological disorders.
- ItemNeurodegenerative Potential of the Aqueous Leaf Extract of Ocimum gratissimum: A Histological and Biochemical Study(Anatomy Journal of Africa, 2015-09-27) Ajibola, Musa IyiolaOcimum gratissimum is an herbaceous perennial shrub which is widely distributed in many regions. It is consumed in food as seasoning locally in Nigeria. In the present study, the effect of the acute administration of the aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum (AeOG) on prefrontal cortical neurons was checked to assess its neurotoxicity potential. Thirty adult male Wistar rats weighing between 190-210 g were divided into 5 groups (n=6). Group A (control) received 1 ml of normal saline (p.o), groups B-E received 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg AeOG (p.o) respectively. Treatment lasted for fourteen days. Twenty-four hours after treatment, animals were sacrificed and their brains were removed. The prefrontal cortices neuronal morphology was studied using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain; while activities of acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were assayed in the cerebral homogenate. AeOG administration at doses 300 and 400 mg/kg cause neuronal fragmentation and central chromatolysis with significant (P<0.05) increases in the activities of cerebral ACP and ALP. Our findings show that the acute use of AeOG caused neuronal fragmentation and central chromatolysis which are response to axonal injuries and may leads to onset of neurodegenerative diseases and affect cognitive and executive functions of the prefrontal cortex.
- ItemDatura metel Administration Distorts Medial Prefrontal Cortex Histology of Wistar Rats(Scientific Research Publishing, 2015-07) Etibor, Temitope Akhigbe; Ajibola, Musa Iyiola; Buhari, Mohammad Olanrewaju; Safiriyu, Abass Alao; Akinola, Oluwole Busayo; Caxton-Martins, Ezekiel A.Datura metel is one of psychoactive substances of great ethno-pharmacological significance often abused because of its unrestricted availability, yet, little is known about its mechanisms of action. This work was therefore aimed at assessing the activity of ethanolic seed extract of D. metel on Nissl substances, astrocytes, axonal and neuronal integrity of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of Wistar rats. Eighteen Wistar rats averaging 175 g were used and randomly assigned to three groups: group A rats (n = 6) were administered extract of 100 mg/kg bw, group B rats (n = 6) received extract of 200 mg/kg bw, and group C-control (n = 6) took distilled water only for 14 days. The results revealed that D. metel is deleterious to the health of Wistar rats at a dose-dependent rate as observed in its actions on the medial prefrontal cortex at 100 mg/kg bw and 200 mg/kg bw. The histological study of the treated Wistar rats exhibited features of disoriented neuronal integrity such as, chromatolysis, reduced protein synthesis due to loss of Nissl substances and nuclei, neuronal loss as well as axonal injuries.
- ItemSelective effects of Datura Stramonium on the granular parallel fibres and purkinje cells of the cerebellum in Wistar rats(International Journal of Anatomy and Research, 2015) Sunday, Dare S.Introduction: Datura stramonium (DS) is a tropical ubiquitous shrub which is often used to increase intoxication in some beverages and is also freely used as a hallucinogen. It is a depressant of the central nervous system, yet commonly smoked in like manner tobacco. The present study investigated changes induced by intoxication with DS on the purkinje cells and parallel fibres of the cerebellum in Wistar rats to further elucidate the effects of this drug on cerebellar structure. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on both male and female Wistar rats (200-250 g). They were placed into three batches and four groups were derived from each batch, with eight animals per group. Ethanolic dried seed extract of DS was diluted in normal saline and administered intraperitoneally (I.P.) at a dose of 750mg/kg and given to the treatment groups: once in batch 1, twice in batch 2, twelve hourly and thrice in batch 3, eight hourly per day respectively for 4 weeks, while the control groups received an equivalent of normal saline. The rats were euthanized and sections of the cerebellum were histologically processed in all groups. Silver impregnation stain for degenerating axons and neurons was used to elucidate the actions of DS on purkinje cells and the parallel fibres of the cerebellum. Results: The result of IP administration of DS extract (750 mg/kg) given three times daily to the treated rats showed significant histological changes, which included atrophy of the parallel fibres but no significant changes in the purkinje cells of the cerebellum. Conclusions: Intoxication of DS seed as a result of excessive ingestion may have a selective degenerative effect on the parallel fibres of the granule cells of the cerebellum while the purkinje cells are spared; the implication being motor dysfunction.