The effects of nano-silver and garlic administration during pregnancy on neuron apoptosis in rat offspring hippocampus

Objective(s):The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of nano-silver and garlic administration during pregnancy on neuron apoptosis in rat offspring hippocampus. Materials and Methods: Fifty pregnant wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: ۱- nano- silver (N.S) group; ۳۰ mg/kg of N.S treated via gavage. ۲- Control (C) group, administrated with distilled water via gavage. ۳- N.S and garlic (N.S+G) group; N.S (۳۰ mg/kg) and garlic juice (۱ ml/۱۰۰ g) treated via gavage simultaneously. ۴- Garlic group (G); garlic juice (۱ ml/۱۰۰ g) administrated via gavage, ۵- normal (N) without any intervention. All the interventions were done during pregnancy (۲۱ days). Finally, the brains of rat offspring were removed to use for nano-silver level measurement and TUNEL staining. The mean of TUNEL positive cell numbers per unit area (NA) in different regions of hippocampus were compared in all animal groups. Results: The results revealed a significant increase of hippocampus nano-silver level in N.S and N.S+G groups comparing to N group (P<۰.۰۵) and a significant decrease in nano-silver level in N.S+G group comparing to N.S group (P<۰.۰۱). The number of TUNEL positive cells in the CA۱, CA۳, and DG fields of rat offspring hippocampus increased in N.S and N.S+G groups comparing to other ones, and also reduced significantly in N.S+G group comparing to N.S group (¥  P< ۰.۰۱). Conclusion: Our results showed that co-administration of nano-silver and garlic during pregnancy may lead to reduce nano-silver induced apoptotic cells in their offspring hippocampus.   

Keywords:

Apoptosis , Garlic , Hippocampus , Nano-silver