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Effects of aluminum on rat cerebellar cortex and the possible protective role of Nigella sativa: a light and electron microscopic study

Background Aluminum (AL) is toxic to the central nervous system, and Nigella sativa (NS) reduces lipid peroxidation by its antioxidant activity. Objective To investigate the effects of AL treatment on rat cerebellar cortex and the possible protective role of NS. Materials and methods Twenty-five adult male albino rats were divided into five groups: a control group, an NS-treated group, which received NS oil (1ml/kg) orally for 1.5 months, an AL-treated group, which received AL chloride daily (320mg/kg) for 1.5 months, an AL+NS group, which received NS with AL for 1.5 months at the same previous doses, and a withdrawal group, which received AL at the same previous dose for 1.5 months and was left for withdrawal for 1.5 months. Specimens of the cerebellar cortex were processed for light microscopic, electron microscopic, and immunohistochemical study. Morphometric and statistical analysis was carried out. Results The NS-treated group was very similar to the control group. After the administration of AL, the cerebellum showed a significant reduction in the number of Purkinje cells, which appeared irregular with a darkly stained cytoplasm. The ultrastructure showed Purkinje cells with cytoplasmic vacuolation, dilatation of Golgi cisternae, and mitochondria with dilated cristae. Granule cells showed mitochondria with destroyed cristae. The immune reaction for caspase-3 was intense compared with that of the control group. Administration of NS with AL showed an observable protection against these changes. The withdrawal group showed Purkinje cells that were irregular and darkly stained and their ultrastrucure showed mitochondria with destroyed cristae, but these changes were less marked than those in the AL-treated group. Conclusion NS may play a protective role against AL-induced cerebellar toxicity in humans.