Role of Eugenol in Aluminium-Induced Histochemical and Histomorphological Changes within the Purkinje Cells of the Cerebellum of Wistar Rats

Build-up of Aluminium within the brain can occur via different routes. Accumulation of aluminium in different forms have been known to trigger neuronal excitotoxicity and hence triggering apoptosis among neuronal cells. The aim of this study was to study the protective effects of eugenol on aluminium induced neurotoxicity on the cerebellum of adult Wistar rats. Twenty (20) Wistar rats was divided into Four (4) groups namely: CTRL (2 ml/kg distilled water), AC (100 mg/kg aluminium chloride), EG (150 mg/kg eugenol) and EG+AC (150 mg/kg eugenol + 100 mg/kg aluminium chloride). All rats were treated for a duration of 21 days and on day 22 (24 hrs after last administration), they were sacrificed with 0.8 ml/kg of ketamine as anesthetizing agent. Administration of aluminium chloride resulted in cytoarchitectural distortion of purkinje cells, reduction in staining intensity of Nissl substance within purkinje cells using cresyl fast violet. However treatment with eugenol resulted in improved staining intensity using cresyl fast violet, hence preserved Nissl substance. The use of Congo red however did not however reveal any amyloidal plaques at the dose and duration of administration. Administration of aluminium chloride also resulted in a significant (p<0.05) increase in purkinje cell area when compared to the control and treatment with eugenol resulted in significant (p<0.05) reduction in purkinje cell area. The use of Eugenol offers a promising prospect in the management of toxicity associated with aluminium chloride and neurodegenerative diseases.

Key Words: Eugenol, Nissl substance, Cresyl fast violet, Excitotoxicity, Purkinje cell