Neuroprotective effect of nicardipine on cadmium‐induced Purkinje cell death in rat cerebellum

Abstract

SUMMARYThe present study was designed to investigate the effects of nicardipine on cadmium-induced Purkinje cell loss in cerebellum of rats. Animals were divided into three groups as control, cadmium and cadmium + nicardipine groups. Saline, cadmium sulphate (0,0021 mg/kg) and cadmium sulphate (0,002 1 mg/kg) + nicardipine (1 mg/kg) were intracortically administered respectively. All rats were observed for one week, but only the rats in the third group were injected nicardipine (10 n&kg/day, i.p.) during this period. One week later, all rats were perfused intracardially. Series of frontal sections from cerebella were stained with Thionin staining. Purkinje cells were counted under x400 magnification via a light microscope.Cadmium administration caused 25-35 % decrease in Purkinje cell density in Crus I, Crus II and Lobulus Simplex areas of cerebellum in cadmium group (pcO.05). The Purkinje cell density was 16-23 % less in nicardipine-treated group than control and cells were partially protected from toxic effects of cadmium significantly (pcO.05).These results suggest that cadmium has neurotoxic effects on Purkinje cells in cerebellum and nicardipine may protect neurons from cadmium-induced toxicity 6~0.05).

Nitric oxide synthase inhibitors protect cerebellar Purkinje cells from zinc-induced cell loss in adult rat

“…The numbers reported here are in line with the large majority of both stereological and profile counting methods, as reviewed by Schmitz et al (2000). Our results are also consistent with previous results on toxicity of ethanol (Bonthius et al, 1996), cadmium (Bagirici et al, 2001), diclofenac sodium and nicotine (Chen et al, 2003). According to our findings, animals in the zinc group had significantly fewer Purkinje cell (61.2%) in the cerebellum than their controls.…”

“…In the present study, therefore, we investigated whether the zinc neurotoxicity induced by intracortical injection on motor cortex changed total number of cerebellar Purkinje cells. These cells also are highly susceptible to a variety of pathological conditions such as ethanol toxicity (Bonthius et al, 1996), cadmium toxicity (Bagirici et al, 2001) and ischemia (Welsh et al, 2002).…”

Beneficial effects of chlorogenic acid on methotrexate-induced cerebellar Purkinje cell damage in rats

“…However, it has been demonstrated that Purkinje cells are highly susceptible to a variety of pathological conditions and toxic substances such as ischemia (Welsh et al, 2002), ethanol (Bonthius et al, 1996), longterm nicotine exposure (Chen et al, 2003) and cadmium toxicity (Bagirici et al, 2001). Similarly, this study also exhibited that MTX administration caused neurotoxic and apoptotic effects on Purkinje cells of rat cerebellum.…”