Pollution Research Paper

Vol 40, Issue 4, 2021; Page No.(1382-1389)

MERCURIC CHLORIDE INDUCED NEURODEGENERATIVE CHANGES: AN ASSESSMENT BASED ON NEURONAL CELL ARCHITECTURE IN ALBINO RAT

MADHURI YADAV AND VISHNU SHARMA

Abstract

Mercury is a heavy metal that has been reported to cause devastating health problems in developed and underdeveloped world. This work studies the effect of mercuric chloride on the histoarchitectural changes on the cerebrum of the adult albino rats. Twenty five female rats were divided into five groups of five rats each. Group I serves as control which receives normal water. Group II served as acute (1d) and received 10.3 mg/kg b.wt. of mercuric chloride orally, while group III, IV and V served as sub acute (7, 14 and 21ds) received 1.47, 0.73 and 0.49 mg/kg b.wt. of mercuric chloride. Animals were etherized and brains were dissected out after dismantling of cranium. The brains were fixed in Bouin’s fluid and tissues were processed histologically using H and E stain. Histological observation of the cerebrum showed a normal architecture in group I while group II showed degenerative changes, necrosis, pyknosis in neurons and group III, IV and V exhibited hypertrophy in microglial cells, clumping of glial cells pyknosis and necrosis in neurons. It was concluded from the present study that mercuric chloride treatment has neurodegenerative effects on the cerebrum, a part of central nervous system pertaining to memory and learning.