The possible radioprotective effects of vitamin E, Nigella sativa oil, and melatonin against X-ray induced early acute changes in cerebral and cerebellar cortices in Albino rats: Histological and Immunohistochemical study.

Abstract

Background: Radiation induced brain and cerebellum injury is common in patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck tumors. Administration of antioxidants before radiation as vitamin E, nigella sativa oil and melatonin could be valuable in limiting this injury. Material and Methods: 40 rats were divided into five different groups. Group Ι: served as the control group and subdivided into 4subgroups. subroup Ia: negative control, subgroup Ib: animals received vitamin E only (300 mg/kg orally once, subgroup Ic: animals received nigella sativa oil only (1ml/kg orally once and subgroup Id: animals received melatonin only 100 mg/ kg intraperitoneally once: Group ΙΙ: animals were exposed to x ray irradiation (XRI) (8 Gy whole body). Group ΙΙΙ: animals were pretreated with vitamin E (300 mg/kg orally once 1h before XRI. Group ΙV: animals were pretreated with nigella sativa oil(1ml/kg orally once1h before XRI). Group V: animals were pretreated with melatonin (100 mg/kg intraperitoneally once 1h before XRI). Animals were sacrificed 48h after irradiation. Brain and cerebellum were dissected, formalin fixed and processed for histological and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunostainig. The number of GFAP positive astrocytes were counted and statistically analyzed using SPSS program. Results: Radiation induced loss of lamellar pattern in the cerebral cortex with degeneration and necrosis of cortical nerve cells. In the cerebellum, purkinje cell degeneration was observed. Radiation induced a significant increase in the number of GFAP positive astrocytes in both cerebral and cererbellar cortices compared to the control group. In groups treated with vitamin E, nigella sativa oil and melatonin, there was partial improvement in cerebral and cerebellar changes with a significant decrease in the number of GFAP positive astrocytes. Conclusion: The use of antioxidants such as vitamin E, nigella and melatonin could limit radiation induced injury in brain and cerebellum.

Vitamin E ameliorates oral mucositis in gamma-irradiated rats (an in vivo study)

“…Vitamin E treatment also decreased the inflammatory infiltrate in the underlying submucosa with absence of inflammation with the high vitamin E dose (500 mg/Kg). Similar result was obtained by Nor-Eldin and Elsayed [ 11 ] who found that 300 mg/Kg vitamin E provided a protection for brain and cerebellum against whole body irradiation at eight Gy. Similarly, Saleh et al [ 26 ] found that vitamin E (40 mg/Kg/day) reduced the cytotoxic effect of cyclophosphamide with regard to rats’ tongues.…”

“…Rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 7); group C: negative control (Neither irradiation nor treatment was given), group R: rats were subjected to localized gamma-irradiation only, however for groups R + 300 VE, R + 360 VE and R + 500 VE: rats were subjected to localized gamma-irradiation followed by 300, 360 and 500 mg/Kg/day oral vitamin E for 7 days, respectively [9][10][11].…”

Will Nigella sativa oil protect parotid glands of rats against cranium gamma irradiation? Histological and immunohistochemical evaluation

“…Moreover, it significantly decreased TGF-β expression compared to irradiated glands. These results were parallel to those obtained by Nor-Eldin and Elsayed [ 32 ], where administration of NSO improved the cerebral and cerebellar changes induced by exposure to X-ray (8 Gy) with a significant decrease in the number of GFAP-positive astrocytes. Likewise, administration of NSO provided partial protection and improvement of histopathological alterations of parotid gland subjected to fenitrothion intoxication [ 33 ].…”

Will Nigella sativa oil protect parotid glands of rats against cranium gamma irradiation? Histological and immunohistochemical evaluation

“…These results were parallel to those obtained by Nor-Eldin and Elsayed [32] , where administration of NSO improved the cerebral and cerebellar changes induced by exposure to X-ray (8 Gy) with a signi cant decrease in the number of GFAP-positive astrocytes. Likewise, administration of NSO provided partial protection and improvement of histopathological alterations of parotid gland subjected to fenitrothion intoxication [33] .…”