Histological and Immunohistochemical Changes in the Hippocampus of the Adult Male Albino Rats Treated with Amethopterin and the Possible Protective Role of Moringa Leaves Extract

Abstract

Background: Amethopterin (AMP) is a chemotherapeutic drug used to treat many types of cancer like lung and breast cancers. Aim of work: This study was done to detect the ameliorating effects of Moringa leaves extract (MLE) against AMP induced hippocampus damage. Material and Methods: Fifty adult male albino rats were used. They were divided into equal five groups. The 1 st group provided with water and food ad libitum. The 2 nd group received MLE orally (300 mg/kg b w) twice a week. The 3 rd group was injected intraperitoneal with AMP (0.5mg/kg b w) twice a week for four weeks. The 4 th group was administrated AMP and MLE at the same timeline. The 5 th group was given MLE after four weeks of AMP treatment. By the end of the experiment, the rats were anaesthetized; their brains were dissected and processed for histological and immunohistochemical examination. Results: Histological examination of the brain exhibited the normal structure of the hippocampus in the 1 st and 2 nd groups. Hippocampus of the 3 rd group showed severe damaged neurons, degeneration of pyramidal cells and vacuolated astrocytes. On the other hand, hippocampus of the 4 th group revealed a moderate degree of tissue changes while a good degree of improvement with more or less normal neuronal structure was seen in the 5 th group. The intensity of expression of apoptotic protein P53 on hippocampus sections of the 3 rd group was strongly positive when compared to the control group. A moderate-strong positive expression was detected in the 4 th group while mild-moderate positive expressions in the 5 th group. Conclusion: The present study confirms the possible protective role of MLE against the degenerative changes caused by amethopetrin.