African Journal of
Cellular Pathology

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR CELLULAR PATHOLOGY SCIENTISTS OF NIGERIA
  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Cell. Path
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2449-0776
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJCPath
  • Start Year: 2013
  • Published Articles: 107

The effect of ascorbic acid on mercury-induced changes on the histomorphology of the cerebellum of adult wistar rats

Ibegbu AO
  • Ibegbu AO
  • Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Kaduna State-Nigeria
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Animoku AA
  • Animoku AA
  • Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Kaduna State-Nigeria
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Ayuba M,
  • Ayuba M,
  • Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Kaduna State-Nigeria
  • Google Scholar
Brosu D
  • Brosu D
  • Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Kaduna State-Nigeria
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Adamu SA
  • Adamu SA
  • Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Kaduna State-Nigeria
  • Google Scholar
Akpulu P
  • Akpulu P
  • Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Kaduna State-Nigeria
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Hamman WO
  • Hamman WO
  • Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Kaduna State-Nigeria
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Umana UE
  • Umana UE
  • Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Kaduna State-Nigeria
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Musa SA
  • Musa SA
  • Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Kaduna State-Nigeria
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  •  Received: 01 August 2014
  •  Accepted: 01 September 2014
  •  Published: 30 September 2014

Abstract

Aim: The present study was aimed at evaluating the effect of ascorbic acid on mercury-induced changes on the cerebellar cortex of adult Wistar rats.

Methods: Thirty adult Wistar rats of average weight of 200g were randomly divided into 6 groups of 5 rats each. The animals in Group 1 (control) were administered with distilled water, Groups 2 and 3 were administered with 52mg/kg and 26.25mg/kg body weight of HgCl2 respectively while Groups 4 and 5 were administered with 52mg/kg of HgCl2 and 5mg/kg of ascorbic acid and 26.25gm/kg of HgCl2 and 5mg/kg of ascorbic acid respectively, while Group 6 was administered with 5mg/kg of ascorbic acid. The administration was through the oral route, daily for 3 weeks and the animals were humanely sacrificed. Thereafter, blood and tissue samples were harvested for analysis.

Results: The result of the biochemical parameters showed a significant increase (P<0.05) in the mean SOD and LPO values after the administration of mercuric chloride and ascorbic acid. Histological observation of the cerebellar cortex showed normal histo-morphology in Groups 1 and 6 while, the cerebellum in Groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 showed some degenerative, necrotic and cellular changes.

Conclusion: Ascorbic acid administration has shown to ameliorate the induced degenerative changes in the cerebellum caused by mercuric chloride toxicity in Wistar rats.

 

Key words: Mercuric chloride, Cerebellar cortex, Ascorbic acid, Wistar rats