Biochemical, behavioural and quantitative alterations in cerebellum of Swiss albino mice following irradiation and its modulation by Grewia asiatica

Abstract

Purpose: To study the biochemical, quantitative histopathological and behavioural changes after 5 Gy whole body irradiation and its modulation by supplementation of Grewia asiatica extract (GAE) on male Swiss albino mice up to 30 days.

Materials and methods: For this, healthy mice from an inbred colony were divided into five groups: (i) Control (vehicle treated); (ii) GAE treated – mice in this group were orally supplemented with GAE (700 mg/kg body weight (bw)/day) once daily for 15 consecutive days; (iii) Irradiated mice; (iv) GAE + irradiated – mice in this group were orally supplemented GAE for 15 days (once a day) prior to irradiation; and (v) Irradiated + GAE – mice in this group were administered GAE orally for 15 days (once a day) consequently after irradiation.

Results: Marked radiation induced changes in the amount of cerebellar lipid peroxidation (LPO), Glutathione (GSH), protein, nucleic acids and histopathological changes could be significantly (p < 0.001) ameliorated specially at later intervals by supplementation of GAE prior to and post irradiation. Radiation induced deficits in learning and memory were also significantly (p < 0.001) ameliorated.

Conclusion: The result of present study showed that prior/post-supplementation of G. asiatica has radioprotective potential as well as neuroprotective properties against the radiation.

Keywords:

• Cerebellum
• oxidative stress
• learning
• lipid peroxidation
• glutathione
• nucleic acids