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The Possible Protective Role of Dark Chocolate Against Acrylamide Neurotoxicity in Weaning Rats Cerebellum

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Abstract

Acrylamide (ACR) is selective neurotoxicity, could be found in foods processed by high temperature. This work aimed to evaluate the protective role of the dark chocolate (DC) against cerebellar neurotoxicity induced by subchronic ACR exposure in recently weaned rat pups and to propose it as protective supplement against dietary ACR hazards. Eighteen weaning pups were used in the current study and divided into three groups, six rats in each group; group 1 (control group), group 2 (ACR group), and group 3 (ACR + DC group). The pups were sacrificed after 21 days and the cerebellums were removed for light microscope using H&E stain, ultrastructural study, morphometric analysis of the neurons count, biochemical analysis of oxidant and antioxidant markers and real-time quantitative PCR to evaluate the nuclear receptor subfamily 4, group A, member 2 (Nr4a2) gene expression. Pups with ACR consumption showed signs of neuronal degeneration and reduced Nr4a2 expression. On the other hand, pups with ACR + DC consumption showed relative signs of neuronal restoration and enhanced Nr4a2 expression. In conclusion, DC can be used as effective supplement to decrease the dietary ACR cerebellar neuronal risks.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anatomy Department, Faculty of Medicine, Beni Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt

    Doaa M. Hassan & Hanan D. Yassa

  2. Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Beni Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt

    Nermeen N. Welson

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  1. Doaa M. Hassan
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Contributions

DM and HD designed experiments. DM and NN performed experiments. DM, HD and NN provided experimental support and intellectual input. DM and HD wrote the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Doaa M. Hassan.

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The experiment strictly adhered to all ethical rules concerning animal research and was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Cairo University (CU-IACUC).

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Hassan, D.M., Welson, N.N. & Yassa, H.D. The Possible Protective Role of Dark Chocolate Against Acrylamide Neurotoxicity in Weaning Rats Cerebellum. Mol Neurobiol 59, 234–244 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-021-02580-x

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