Objectives: To evaluate the ameliorative effect of oral Bacopa monniera (BM) extract on cerebellar structural changes secondary to chronic microwave exposure.
Materials and Methods: The study comprised 30 normal male albino rats equally divided into: Study group I exposed to microwave radiation for 30 minutes/day for 28 days, Study group II given standardized extract of BM in a dose of 40 mg/kg/day for 28 days and were exposed to microwave radiation for 30 minutes/day for 28 days and Control group without any exposure to radiation. Animals were exposed to power density of 170 mWatt/cm2 at a fixed day-hour exposure distance of 20±5 cm. All animal were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and cerebellum was extracted, fixed and stained with hematoxilin-eosin (Hx&E) and silver for nerve fibers and cells.
Results: The Hx & E section in Study group I showed marked areas of vacuolations with smaller, ill-defined orientation of stellate cells and basket cells in the molecular layer. The Purkinje cells are fewer, shrunken, degenerated with focal loss in some areas and replaced by vacuolations. Purkinje cells had dark pyknotic nuclei and surrounded by spaces with focal loss in some areas and vacuolation. The granular cells of the internal granular layer are widely separated, darkly stained, surrounded by astrocytic cells and contains vacuolation. The Golgi cells have pale nuclei and vacuolated cytoplasm. In BM-treated animals; Hx & E section showed that the molecular layer appeared reaching the pia mater and contains stellate and basket cells with minimal vacuolation. The Purkinje cells are absent in some areas, shrunken, vacuolated and degenerating with surrounding vacuolations. Purkinje cells have distorted nuclei, may be present in more than one row in some areas surrounded by spaces and vacuolation. The granular cells of the internal granular layer are dispersed, surrounded by astrocytic cells and contains vacuolation.
Conclusion: Prophylactic administration of BM extract can ameliorate the cerebellar structural effect of equipments emitting microwaves especially mobile phones whose use became spreading and usually put in contact of the skull so exposing brain directly to its emitted microwaves. |
