Effect of Alpha-Lipoic Acid on Aluminium Induced Toxicity in the Prefrontal Cortex and Hippocampus of Wistar Rats

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the protective effect of Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) on Aluminum chloride (AlCl3) induced  cerebral and hippocampal toxicity in Wistar rat. The experimental design involved 5 groups of 5 rats that were treated with saline,  Aluminum chloride and/or Alphalipoic acid; for 2 weeks. At the end of the treatment phase, Morris water maze test was conducted to estimate the spatial memory function before the animals were euthanized and the Prefrontal cortex (PFC) and Hippocampus tissues  evaluated. The behavioral studies showed that AlCl3 induces significant decline in spatial memory which was corroborated with  histological features of loss of neural density and necrosis of pyramidal cells. Co-exposure of Aluminum with Alpha-lipoic acid was associated with sparing of spatial memory with maintenance of brain structure. The findings from the present study confirms that the  structural and functional neurotoxicity of Aluminium can be ameliorated with the concomitant usage of Alpha-lipoic acid during the  Aluminum exposure.