A comparative histological study on the possible effect of ginger and alpha lipoic acid on cerebellum of rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus / Noha Mohamed Hisham Sayed ; Supervised Hend Shafik Bassiouny , Nagwa Abdel Wahab Ahmed , Marwa Mohamed Yousry Abdelkader

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Histology

Background and objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial disorder, associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Oxidative stress is one of the most important mechanisms of diabetic complications. This work was planned to evaluate and compare the possible effects of ginger and alpha lipoic acid on cerebellum of streptozotocin (STZ) -induced diabetic rats.Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male albino rats were divided into: control and experimental groups. After diabetic induction by STZ, experimental group were further subdivided into untreated diabetic group, ginger-treated group that received 500 mg of ginger /kg/day for 6 weeks, and alpha lipoic acid (ALA)-treated group that received 100 mg of ALA /kg/day for 6 weeks. Sections from left lobe of cerebellum were processed for histological (H&E), immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), morphometric and statistical studies.Results: Degeneration (pyknosis, karyorrhexis, chromatolysis, swelling), loss, disorganization and migration of Purkinje cells to the granular layer; decreased granular layer thickness, vacuolations around Purkinje cells and in the molecular layer were observed in untreated group. Also, vacuolations with vascular congestion and extravasation were detected in the white matter. GFAP immunoreactive astrocytes were increased 2reactive gliosis3 in untreated group. Both treated groups recorded morphological improvement, with increased number of Purkinje cells (PCs) and thickness of granular layer. GFAP positive astrocytes decreased in both treated groups. These findings were confirmed by morphometric and statistical analysis.Conclusion: This work points to the antioxidant protective effect of ginger and alpha lipoic acid against the oxidative damage of diabetes on cerebellum. ALA has superior role when compared to ginger in protecting PCs and ameliorating reactive gliosis

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