Evaluation of the role of omega-3 acids in nicotine-induced neurotoxicity in pregnant wistar rats and their pups
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2023
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Department Of Physiological Sciences, Faculty Of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University.
Abstract
This study evaluated the sensorimotor reflexes, motor strength and co-ordination in the mother Wistar rats and their pups, and the effects of nicotine and treatment with Omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation on memory of mother rats and their pups. It also determined the levels of markers of brain injury such as, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF -α) in the mother rats and their pups, assessed the effect of nicotine and Omega-3 fatty
acids on the brain metabolic enzymes such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6P) as well as brain neurotransmitters such as dopamine (DA) in the
brain of the mother Wistar rats and their pups; determined the effects of nicotine and Omega-3 fatty acids on the enzymatic anti-oxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nonenzymatic
anti-oxidant such as reduced glutathione (GSH) in the brain of the mother rats and their pups; and assessed the histology of cerebellum and hippocampus of the mother rats and pups.
Ethical clearance (IPH/OAU/12/1925) for the study was obtained from Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC) of the Institute of Public Health, College of Health Sciences,Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. Thirty adults female Wistar rats and ten adult
male Wistar rats of 10-12 weeks of age were used for this study. The female rats were randomly divided into six groups such that each group contained five rats. Ten male rats were distributed
into five out of the six cages, such that the male: female ratio in the five cages was 2:5. Groups I and II (non- Pregnant and pregnant rats) were treated with 1ml/kg/day of normal saline for 42 days; III (pregnant rats) were treated with 4 mg/kg/day of nicotine for 42 days; IV (pregnant rats) were co-administered nicotine 4 mg/kg/day and 100 mg/kg/day of Omega-3 fatty acids for 42 days; V (pregnant rats) were co-administered nicotine 4 mg/kg/day and 300 mg/kg/day of
Omega-3 fatty acids for 42 days, and VI (pregnant rats) were co-administered nicotine 4mg/kg/day and 600 mg/kg/day of Omega-3 fatty acids for 42 days. Nicotine and Omega-3 fatty acids were administered orally. Neurobehavioral tests were performed on the mother rats and their pups following standard protocol. Biochemical parameters such as DA, SOD, GSH, AChE, G6P, IL-6, TNF-alpha and cas-3 were assayed in the brain tissue homogenate using appropriate
biochemical kits. Histology of the cerebellum and hippocampus was carried out using Hematoxylin & Eosin stain. Data was analyzed using One-way Analysis of Variance followed by Neuman keul’s post hoc tests. The results were considered significant when P<0.05.
The beam walk time of the mother rats in groups III and IV (9.00 ± 0.32 and 8.00 ± 0.32 seconds) were significantly higher (F= 11.59; p= 0.0001) when compared with groups I, II, V and VI (6.00 ± 0.45; 6.40 ± 0.51; 5.80 ± 0.37 and 6.00 ± 0.32 seconds, respectively). Similarly,
the beam walk time of the pups in groups III and IV (17.20 ± 0.97 and 15.60 ± 0.81 seconds)were significantly higher (F=40.67; p=0.0001) when compared with the pups in groups II, V and VI (6.80 ± 0.58; 9.60 ± 0.51 and 8.20 ± 0.66 seconds respectively). The brain DA levels of
mother rats in groups III, IV and V (24.12 ± 1.74; 18.43 ± 1.64 and 13.97 ± 1.57 pg/ml) were significantly higher (F= 56.45; p=0.0001) when compared with groups I, II and VI (5.37 ± 0.83;
5.13 ± 0.75 and 6.38 ± 1.20 pg/ml respectively). Similar result was obtained for brain DA levels of the pups in groups III and IV when compared with the pups in groups II, V and VI. The GSH
of groups III and IV (7.01 ± 0.46 and 10.94 ± 0.95 μ/mg protein) were significantly lower (F= 13.10; p= 0.0001) when compared with groups I, II, V and VI (11.63 ± 0.70; 11.41 ± 0.84; 10.55 ± 0.50 and 13.07 ± 1.21 μ/mg protein). Similarly, Pup rats in groups III and IV (9.20 ± 0.79 and
7.81 ± 1.28 μ/mg protein) had significantly lower (F= 7.208; p= 0.0019) GSH when compared with the pup in groups II, V and VI (15.35 ± 1.74; 12.43 ± 0.81 and 13.56 ± 0.87 μ/mg protein.Photomicrographs of cerebellum and hippocampus of the rats treated with nicotine showed
scattered arrangement of pyramidal cells with vacuolated neurons. These alterations were significantly reversed with Omega-3 fatty acids following nicotine exposure.
The study concluded that Omega-3 fatty acids at 300 and 600mg/kg ameliorated nicotineinduced neurotoxicity in rat. However, the highest dose seems to be most effective in ameliorating nicotine-induced neurotoxicity in rats
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Omole,J.G(2023).Evaluation of the role of omega-3 acids in nicotine-induced neurotoxicity in pregnant wistar rats and their pups,Department Of Physiological Sciences, Faculty Of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University.