The effect of ascorbic acid on mercury-induced changes on the histomorphology of the cerebellum of adult wistar rats

Aim: The present study was aimed at evaluating the effect of ascorbic acid on mercury-induced changes on the cerebellar cortex of adult Wistar rats.

Methods: Thirty adult Wistar rats of average weight of 200g were randomly divided into 6 groups of 5 rats each. The animals in Group 1 (control) were administered with distilled water, Groups 2 and 3 were administered with 52mg/kg and 26.25mg/kg body weight of HgCl2 respectively while Groups 4 and 5 were administered with 52mg/kg of HgCl2 and 5mg/kg of ascorbic acid and 26.25gm/kg of HgCl2 and 5mg/kg of ascorbic acid respectively, while Group 6 was administered with 5mg/kg of ascorbic acid. The administration was through the oral route, daily for 3 weeks and the animals were humanely sacrificed. Thereafter, blood and tissue samples were harvested for analysis.

Results: The result of the biochemical parameters showed a significant increase (P<0.05) in the mean SOD and LPO values after the administration of mercuric chloride and ascorbic acid. Histological observation of the cerebellar cortex showed normal histo-morphology in Groups 1 and 6 while, the cerebellum in Groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 showed some degenerative, necrotic and cellular changes.

Conclusion: Ascorbic acid administration has shown to ameliorate the induced degenerative changes in the cerebellum caused by mercuric chloride toxicity in Wistar rats.