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Murine’s amygdala microstructure and elevated plus maze activities following R. vomitoria root bark and G. latifolium leaf extracts administration

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Abstract

R. vomitoria (RV), a plant used locally in the management of psychotic disorders, adversely affects the brain functionally and structurally. Such adverse reports, as well as the potential of G. latifolium (GL) to mitigate same warranted this investigation on the combined actions of RV and GL on the amygdala. Twenty-four male CD-1 mice weighing 22–27 g were divided into four groups (n = 6): Control (20 ml/kg body weight, b.w., distilled water); RV (200 mg/kg b.w.), GL (200 mg/kg b.w.), and RV (200 mg/kg b.w.) and GL (200 mg/kg b.w.) combination orally, and for 14 days. On day 15, the elevated-plus maze test was carried out and the animals sacrificed, and processed for histological and immunohistochemical studies. Neurobehavioural results showed significant decrease (p\(\le \) 0.001) in stretch-attend posture, time spent in closed arms, grooming frequency, protected head-dip, as well as significantly (p \(\le \) 0.01) increased time spent in the open arms and unprotected head-dips of the RV group. The combined RV and GL groups showed no such differences in these parameters. Histologically, the amygdala showed hypertrophied cells, with pyknotic and karyorrhectic nuclei, and reduced expression of Nissl substance in the RV group, while the combined RV and GL group showed less degenerative features. Glial fibrillary acidic protein expression (GFAP) was increased in the RV group, while the combined RV and GL group showed reduced expression. In conclusion, RV root bark extract has adverse effects on the microstructure of murines’ amygdala and their behaviour, which may be ameliorated by GL.

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Abbreviations

b.w.:

Body weight

DPX:

Di-polycystein xylene

GFAP:

Glial fibrillary acidic protein

GL:

Gongronema latifolium

H&E:

Haematoxylin and eosin

IgG:

ImmunoglobulinG

NSE:

Neuron specific enolase

RV:

Rauvolfia vomitoria

SEM:

Standard error of mean

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate the assistance of Miss Mbere-Obong Umoren who cared for the animals, and the assistance of technical staff of the Histology Laboratory of the Department of Anatomy, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria. We are also thankful to the management of the University of Uyo, for providing the needed research facilities.

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  1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria

    Idongesit S. Nduohosewo & Moses B. Ekong

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  1. Idongesit S. Nduohosewo
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ISN: Carried out the research and wrote the initial draft of the manuscript. MBE: Conceived and designed the research; analyzed data and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Moses B. Ekong.

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Approval for the study was granted by the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences Ethical/Research Committee, University of Uyo, Nigeria, and all protocols involving handling and care of the animals were strictly adhered to.

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Nduohosewo, I.S., Ekong, M.B. Murine’s amygdala microstructure and elevated plus maze activities following R. vomitoria root bark and G. latifolium leaf extracts administration. Anat Sci Int 95, 342–355 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-020-00527-1

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