EJMS

Abstract

Background: aspartame (ASP) is an artificial sweetener found in many products and is used all over the world. Consumption of ASP could cause neurological and behavioral changes such as headache, insomnia, and seizures. Omega-3 (PUFA) plays an important role in the protection of cells against ROS by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, Omega 3 has beneficial effect in the prevention of heart failure, cardiovascular, liver and kidney diseases. Aim of work: to investigate the role of Omega 3 in ameliorating aspartame- induced cerebellar toxicity in adult male albino rat. Materials and Methods: 24 adult male albino rats were used in the present study. The animals were divided into 4 groups: group I (control group), group II (sham control), group III (Aspartame treated) and group IV (Omega 3 and Aspartame treated). At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed and the cerebellum of each animal was removed and subjected to histological, histochemical (oxidative markers), immune-histochemical (GFAP immunoexpression) and statistical study. Results: ASP caused marked pathological changes in all layers of the cerebellar cortex mainly the Purkinje cell layer. There was a decrease in GSH , SOD and increase in MDA concentrations in the cerebellar tissue with marked increase in GFAP immunoexpression. Treatment with Omega 3 in group IV showed restoration of the organization of the layers of the cerebellar cortex and improvement in the concentrations of the oxidative markers (MDA, SOD and GSH) and GFAP immunoexpression. Conclusion: Omega 3 could ameliorate the toxic effect of aspartame on the cerebellum of adult male albino rat.