Rat Cerebellar Microanatomy and Neural Oxidative Redox Differentially Affected by Black Mustard Seeds Extract

Abstract

Background: Structural and functional alterations in cortical anatomy by environmental stressors are associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders. Many of these changes are supposed to fore start disease onset and result from environmental exposures. It was previously demonstrated that black mustard extract had a significant impact on the structural and functional integrity of the prefrontal cortex in our previous study. Aim and Objectives: To report effects of the aqueous extract of Brassica nigra (BN) black mustard seeds on the cerebellum of adult Wistar rats at varying doses. Materials and Methods: Twenty adult female rats weighing an average of 180 ± 20g were used. They were split into 4 groups (n = 5) and received administration orally; Group A (received extract at 200 mg/kg body weight), Group B (received extract at 100 mg/kg body weight), Group C (received extract at 50 mg/kg body weight), and Group D (received distilled water ad libitum). Rats from the experimental groups (A-D) were sacrificed 24 hours after the last day of administration which took 28 days, and cerebellar tissues were subjected to routine histochemical and biochemical analyses. Results: Spectrophotometric analyses of glutathione enzymes (GPx, GSH, GST) revealed that BN exerted an inverse dose-related comparative reduction in their neural activities in rats. Cytoarchitectural disposition of neural cells and evaluated Nissl bodies confirmed that BN at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg dose initiated cell death within cerebellar sections of rat brains. Neurons in this brain region showed early signs of apoptosis, hallmarked by intercellular fragmentation, cytoplasmic shrinkage/condensation and degradation of nuclear materials. Conclusion: Our results suggest that BN is not totally innocuous and thus, should be consumed in moderation

Keywords

• Brassica nigra
• Cerebellum
• Mustard Seeds
• Neurotoxicity