Effect of Tocopherol Administration on Aluminium Phosphide- Induced Structural and Functional Changes in the Cerebellar Cortex of Adult Wistar Rats

Aluminium phosphide is an inorganic phosphide used to control insects and rodents in a variety of settings. It is soluble in most organic solvents emit a colourless gas and is odourless when pure. Tocopherol is a lipid-soluble antioxidant that can attenuate the effects of peroxide and protect against lipid peroxidation in cell membranes. The effect of tocopherol on AluminiumPhosphide induced histological, stereological and neurobehavioral changes in adult Wistar rats were studied. Twenty-five adult Wistar rats were divided into five groups with five rats each. Group 1 was the control group and was given normal saline. Group 2 received only the medium (Peanut oil). Group 3 was administered Aluminium phosphide (2.3 mg/kg) only. Group 4 received Aluminium phosphide (2.3 mg/kg) and 800 mg/kg of Tocopherol. Group 5 received Aluminium phosphide (2.3 mg/kg) and 1200 mg/kg of Tocopherol. The rats were administered Aluminium Phosphide and Tocopherol orally for the period of 7 days. Beam walking test was done to access the motor coordination function after which the rats were sacrificed and the tissues were collected for analysis and processed for histological and stereological studies. The result of motor coordination revealed significant differences in the time taken to walk across the beam before and after administration in the experimental animal group exposed to aluminium phosphide only.Histological study of the Cerebellar cortex demonstrated pathological changes in the animals administered Aluminium phosphide when compared to control animals. The stereology evaluation shows non- significant decrease in the cerebellar volume of experimental rats. Aluminium phosphide exert nerotoxicity in adult Wistar rats. Tocopherol administration has been demonstrated to have some level of protection on Aluminium phosphide induced structural and functional toxicity in the cerebellar cortex of adult Wistar rats.

Key Words: Cerebellar cortex, Aluminium phosphide, Tocopherol, Wistar rats