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ABSTRACT
Mercury is a highly toxic heavy metal that can cause a variety of health problems, including neurological damage. The cerebellum is a part of the brain that is responsible for coordination, balance, and motor control. It is quite susceptible to mercury poisoning. Soya bean (Glycine max) is a legume that is rich in antioxidants, including isoflavones, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of aqueous extract of Glycine max on mercury chloride induced neurotoxicity on the cerebellum of adult Wistar rats. Twenty-four (24) adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into four (4) groups consisting of six (6) rats each. Group A served as control and received 1ml of distilled water daily, group B received 4mg/kg body weight of mercury chloride, group C received 1000mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of glycine max and group D received 1000mg/kg body weight of the aqueous extract of glycine max and 4mg/kg body weight of mercury chloride. All administration was via oral route using an orogastric tube for a period of 28 days. The body weights of the rats were recorded daily. At the end of the administration period, neuro behavioral study was carried out and then, the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and the organ (cerebellum) weight was recorded. The histoarchitecture of the cerebellar cortices were assessed using Hematoxylin and Eosin staining technique. Data was analyzed using SPSS and ANOVA was employed as the statistical method. Results obtained showed that mercury chloride caused a significant decrease (P<0.05) in body weight, while soyabean was seen to have caused a significant increase (P<0.05) in body weight of rats in group C and D. No significant change (P>0.05) was observed in the relative brain weight of rats in treated groups when compared to control. No significant change (P>0.05) was observed in the cerebellar weight of animals in all treated groups when compared to control. Results obtained showed that there was significant decrease (P<0.05) in rearing of rats in group B when compared to control. While there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in rearing in rats in group C and D. There was a significant increase (P<0.05) in grooming of rats in group B when compared to control, while rats in group C and D showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the level of grooming when compared to group B. There was significant increase (P<0.05) in immobility in rats in group B when compared to control, while rats in group C shows significant decrease (P<0.05) in grooming level when compared to group B but an increase when compared control. Finally, there is shown to be a significant increase (P<0.05) in grooming level in rats in group D when compared to group B and control. For Ambulation, a significant decrease (P<0.05) is observed in rats in treated group when compared to control. A significant increase (P<0.05) was observed in group C and D when compared to group B. The animals that were treated with the aqueous extract of Glycine max showed significant improvement in motor coordination and balance. Histological findings revealed shrunken and degenerating purkinje cell layer with irregular darkly stained pyknotic nuclei of the cerebellum in rats treated with 4mg/kg body weight of mercury chloride. Also observed are vacuolization in its granular cell layer. The group administered glycine max only showed normal features of cerebellum while the group administered glycine max and mercury chloride showed few numbers of normal purkinje cell layer. The study found that the aqueous extract of soya bean was effective in reducing the severity of mercury chloride-induced toxicity in the cerebellum. The findings from this research suggests that aqueous extract of soya bean (Glycine max) may be a potential neuro-protective agent for mercury-induced toxicity in the cerebellum. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and to investigate the underlying mechanisms of action.
