Eur J Anat, 24 (5): 343-356 (2020)

Memory state and hippocampal histomorphology in Wistar rat following monosodium glutamate-induced neurotoxicity; role of aqueous extract of Aloe Barbadensis

Olugbenga Ayannuga^1,2, Sinmidele Bamigboye¹, Ayodeji Abijo¹

¹Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria, ²School of Anatomical Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa

ABSTRACT This study assessed the effect of varying doses of aqueous extract of Aloe barbadensis on the cel-lular changes of hippocampal cells, oxidative and memory state of Wistar rats following monosodium glutamate-induced neurotoxicity.Eighty Wistar rats (8 weeks) were randomly as-signed into 4 groups of 20 rats; Group 1 received 3 mL/kg of distilled water. Groups 2, 3 and 4 re-ceived 3 g/kg/day of MSG. In addition, groups 3 and 4 received 100 and 200 mg/kg/day of AB ex-tract respectively. Administration was done orally for 28 days in all groups. Five rats per group were sacrificed weekly over a 4-week period. Memory was assessed using radial arm maze on the last day of administration. Following brain harvest, one cerebral hemisphere was homogenized for oxida-tive state assessment, while the other was fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and stained with H&E for hippocampal histomorphology. Data ob-tained were analyzed using student t-test and p value < 0.05 was considered significant.Across the 4-week period, group 2 rats showed significant increase in time spent to identify baited arms, significant reduction in density of apparentlynormal neurons and oligodendrocyte in CA 1-3 regions of hippocampus, and significant increase in reduced glutathione when compared with other groups. However, no significant differences were noted between groups 1, 3 and 4 for the above stated parameters.The study concluded that MSG caused hippo-campal neuronal and oligodendrocytes degenera-tion and impairment of memory. These anomalies are prevented by 100 and 200 mg/kg of Aloe bar-badensis.

Keywords: Hippocampus â?? Monosodium gluta-mate â?? Memory â?? Neuron â?? Oligodendrocyte â?? Oxidative stress