Histological Assessment of the Effect of Phoenix Dactylifera (Date Palm) on Cortico-ponto-cerebellar Structures in Paraquat Model of Neurotoxicity

Date and Cortico-ponto-cerebellar Structures

Abstract

Background: Herbicides like paraquat (PRQ) are widely used as weed control, predisposing humans to a variety of altered neurological functions. The integrity of brain regions, including structures of the cortico-ponto-cerebellar (CPC) pathway, are involved in the homeostasis of motor activities and coordination. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated the health benefits of Phoenix dactylifera. This study evaluated the ameliorative effect of P. dactylifera fruits pulp extract against PRQ-triggered CPC changes in Wistar rats using histological assessments. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five rats were categorized into five groups (n=5); control was administered 2ml/kg distilled H₂O, another group received 11.35mg/kg PRQ, another received 11.35mg/kg PRQ+10mg/kg L-dopa as reference drug, while two other groups received 11.35mg/kg PRQ+500mg/kg aqueous fruit extract of P. dactylifera (AFPD) and 11.35mg/kg PRQ+1,000mg/kg AFPD, respectively for twenty-eight days. Histological examination was conducted using Haematoxylin and Eosin stains to assess the ameliorative effect of AFPD following PRQ-induced CPC changes. Results: Relative to the control, sections of the PRQ (11.35mg/kg)-treated group revealed neurodegenerative changes as cytoarchitectural distortions in CPC structures manifesting as pyknotic nuclei and neuronal necrosis, chromatolysis, perineuronal vacuolations and satelliotosis, and shrunken Purkinje cells and gliosis. However, L-dopa (10mg/kg)- and AFPD (500 and 1,000mg/kg) treatments ameliorated PRQ-induced changes by preserving the CPC cytoarchitecture manifesting as mild distortions to relatively normal cytoarchitecture when compared to the control. AFPD revealed neuroprotection comparable to the reference drug, L-dopa. Conclusion: AFPD has potential ameliorative properties against PRQ-induced CPC neurodegenerative changes in Wistar rats. AFPD neuroprotective properties could be attributed to constituent bioactive compounds with potent antioxidant activities against oxidative stress-related PRQ neuropathological changes.