Original Article
Author Details :
Volume : 9, Issue : 2, Year : 2022
Article Page : 85-89
https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijcap.2022.021
Abstract
Objectives: Chronic use of khat has been associated with neurocognitive changes. Among the cells affected and responsible for the changes in cognition are immature neurons. This study aims to outline the changes in histomorphometry of immature neurons on chronic use of khat.
Materials and Methods: Young adult wistar rats were randomized into controls, and three experimental groups to receive 500mg/kg, 1000mg/kg and 2000mg/kg crude khat extracts respectively. After 6 weeks the animals were sacrificed and their brains removed. We performed immunohistochemical visualization of immature neurons using double-cortin staining. Photomicrographs of the stained sections were transferred to Image J-Fiji software to study the staining neurons. We used Kruskal-Wallis test to correlate the four animal groups in terms of astrocyte densities.
Results: Double-cortin immunoreactive neurons were observed in all animal groups, and an increase in the number and complexity of the neurons was noted in khat-fed rats compared to controls, with the highest concentration noted in low dose khat (500mg/kg) compared to controls (p<0>
Conclusion: Khat use may cause an increase in immature neurons possibly due to neuronal damage with attempts at repair.
Keywords: Doublecortin, Immunoreactive neurons, Prefrontal cortex.
How to cite : Karau P B, Odula P, Obimbo M, Ogonda-ihunwo A, Pilani N, Karau M, Changes in double-cortin immunoreactive neurons in the prefrontal cortex of male rat following chronic khat use. Indian J Clin Anat Physiol 2022;9(2):85-89
This is an Open Access (OA) journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as appropriate credit is given and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.
Received : 20-04-2022
Accepted : 05-05-2022
Viewed: 861
PDF Downloaded: 263