European Journal of Anatomy

Official Journal of The Spanish Society of Anatomy
Cover Volume 22 - Number 4
Eur J Anat, 22 (4): 345-354 (2018)

Possible ameliorative effect of Vitamin C on cerebellar toxicity induced by gibberellic acid during late pregnancy and early postnatal periods in albino rats

Mona H. Mohammed Ali1, Wael Amin Nasr El-Din1,2, Shimaa Anter1

1Human Anatomy and Embryology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt, 2Anatomy Department, Ibn Sina National College for medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT Gibberellic acid (GA3) is a plant growth regulator, widely used in agriculture in Egypt. The goal of this study was to illustrate the histopathological effects of (GA3) on the growing cerebellar cortex and the possible ameliorative effect of vitamin C. Fifty female Sprague-Dawly rats were classified into the following groups: Group I (control group); Group II (GA3-treated group), which received intra-gastric daily dose of GA3 55 mg/kg from the 14th day of pregnancy until the day 14 after delivery; Group III (GA3 & Vitamin C treated group), which received intra-gastric daily dose GA3, 55 mg/kg simultaneously with 100 mg of Vitamin C /kg from the 14th day of pregnancy till day 14 after delivery; and Group IV (Vitamin C-treated group), which received intra-gastric daily dose 100 mg of Vitamin C / kg from the 14th day of pregnancy till day 14 after delivery. One month after delivery, cerebella of pups from all groups were extracted and examined. The cerebellar cortex of GA3-treated group revealed degenerated and displaced Purkinje and granular nerve cells with prominent spongiosis in the molecular layer. Vitamin C administration resulted in marked regression of the previously mentioned neurotoxic effects. In conclusion: results of the current study revealed that maternal exposure to GA3 during pregnancy and lactation caused delayed development of the offsprings' cerebellar cortex. The co-administration of Vitamin C greatly reduced these neuro-toxic effects of GA3 exposure.

Keywords: Growing cerebellar cortex â?? Gibberellic acid â?? Histopathology â?? Vitamin C

European Journal of anatomy
ISSN 2340-311X (Online)