Abstract

This study investigates the expression of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein and effects of aqueous leaf extract of Luffa aegyptiaca Mill on the hippocampus of the brain of Albino Wistar rats with Mefloquine induced seizure. Thirty albino wistar rats (190-250 g) were grouped into 6 groups of 5 rats each. Group 1 was control. Group 2 rats were induced with mefloquine only (4.28 mg/kg). Group 3 were given average dose of luffa extract only (800 mg/kg). Group four rats were induced with mefloquine (4.28 mg/kg) and treated with diazepam (5 mg/kg). Group 5 rats were induced with (4.28 kg/kg) with mefloquine and treated with low dose luffa aegyptiaca mill (400 mg/kg). Group 6 were induced with mefloquine (4.28 mg/kg) and treated with high dose luffa aegyptiaca mill (1200 mg/kg). The rats were then perfused transcardially and sacrificed. Brain sections were analyzed for histological (H&E) and immunohistochemical staining using glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), marker for astrocytes. The histological results showed disruption of pyramidal cells layer in CA3 subfield of hippocampus and regional selectivity of pyramidal cell loss in seizured rats indicating induction of seizure with mefloquine. There was some restoration of pyramidal cells with the treated groups but no disruptions in the control group. There was less expression of GFAP positive cells in the control group and treated groups and more expression in the seizure rats. The expression of GFAP positive cells was an indication of different levels of neuroinflammation. The reactive astrocytes being predominant in the seizure group. The present study therefore provides empirical data on GFAP expression in the hippocampus of seizure animal model treated with aqueous leaf extract of luffa.

Keywords:

Astrocytes, hippocampus, luffa aegyptiaca mill, mefloquine, neuroinflammation, seizure,

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