The neuroprotective role of boric acid on aluminum chloride-induced neurotoxicity

• Published in: Toxicology and industrial health 2011-09, Vol.27 (8), p.700-710
• Main Authors: Çolak, Suat, Geyikoğlu, Fatime, Keles, Osman Nuri, Türkez, Hasan, Topal, Ahmet, Unal, Bünyami
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Aluminum; Aluminum Compounds - toxicity; Alzheimer's disease; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Boric Acids - pharmacology; Boron; Brain; Brain Diseases - chemically induced; Brain Diseases - pathology; Brain Diseases - prevention & control; Cancer; Cell cycle; Cerebral Cortex - drug effects; Cerebral Cortex - pathology; Chloride; Chlorides - toxicity; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Deodorants; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Histocytochemistry; Laboratory animals; Male; Microscopy, Electron; Necrosis; Neurons; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - pathology; Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology; Neurotoxicity; Neurotoxicity Syndromes - etiology; Neurotoxicity Syndromes - prevention & control; Physiology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; University faculty
• ISSN: 0748-2337; 1477-0393
• DOI: 10.1177/0748233710395349

This study was designed to investigate the qualitative and quantitative changes in brain tissue following aluminum chloride (AlCl3) administration and to determine whether boric acid (BA) has a protective effect against brain damage induced by AlCl 3. For this aim, Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly separated into eight groups: (1) control, (2) AlCl3 (5 mg/kg/day), (3, 4 and 5) BA (3.25, 36 and 58.5 mg/kg/day), (6, 7 and 8) AlCl3 (5 mg/kg/day) plus BA (3.25, 36 and 58.5 mg/kg/day). After the animals were killed, the total numbers of neuron in the brain of all groups were determined using an unbiased stereological analysis. In addition to the stereological analysis, all brains were examined histopathologically by using light and electron microscopy. The stereological and histopathological results indicated a high damage of the rat brain tissues in the AlCl3 and AlCl3 + high dose BA (36 and 58.5) treatment groups. However, protective effects on neuron were observed in the AlCl3 + low dose BA (3.25) group when compared other AlCl3 groups. Our stereological and histopathological findings show that low-dose BA, as a proteasome inhibitor, can decrease the adverse effects of AlCl3 on the cerebral cortex.