Abstract
Background: Formaldehyde, a colorless aldehyde with pungent odor, has negative effects on
central nervous system. But, there are a little data about protective
substances against neuronal damage induced by formaldehyde. Therefore, the
present study was to examine histological changes in the cerebellum of
formaldehyde exposed mice and possible effects of N-acetyl cysteine on these changes at
histopatological level. Methods: Forty eight adult male NMRI mice
were randomly divided into six groups: (I) control, (II) treated with 10 mg/kg formaldehyde, (III) treated with formaldehyde and 50 mg/kg N-acetyl cysteine, (IV) treated with formaldehyde and
100 mg/kg N-acetyl cysteine, (V) treated with formaldehyde and 200 mg/kg N-acetyl cysteine, (VI) treated with formaldehyde and
400 mg/kg N-acetyl cysteine. At the end of 14 days, the cerebellums were processed
histologically and morphometric study was carried out using Image J software.
Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20.0 and ANOVA test. Results: The present study
demonstrated a remarkable decrease in both the thickness and the number of the
neurons of granular layer as well as the mean size and the mean number of
Purkinje cells in formaldehyde-treated mice. Treatment with 50 mg/kg NAC
increased the number of the neurons in molecular layer of the cerebellum as
well as the thickness of the gray and white matter. Moreover, it increased the
numbers of Purkinje cells (8.47±3.01
vs. 5.82±1.41). Conclusions: Our results suggest that administration with 50 mg/kg
N-acetyl cysteine prevents
formaldehyde-induced neuronal damage in cerebellum of mice.