Does allicin combined with vitamin B-complex have superior potentials than alpha-tocopherol alone in ameliorating lead acetate-induced Purkinje cell alterations in rats? An immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study

Background: The current article aims to explore the protective potentials of alpha-tocopherol alone and the combination of allicin and vitamin B-complex against lead-acetate neurotoxicity on the cerebellar cortex. Materials and methods: Forty rats were divided into four groups (n = 10). Group 1 was the control group; Group 2 received 10 mg/kg body weight (BW) of lead acetate; Group 3 was exposed to 10 mg/kg BW of lead acetate plus a combination of allicin (100 mg/kg BW) and vitamin B-complex (40 mg/kg BW); Group 4 was administered lead acetate (10 mg/kg BW) and alpha-tocopherol (100 mg/kg BW). The animals received the treatment for 60 days by oral gavage. All the groups were studied ultrastructurally and immunohistochemically with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Results: The affected groups revealed shrunken and degenerated Purkinje cells with irregular nuclei. The cytoplasm comprised several lysosomes, unhealthy mitochondria, and dilated Golgi saccules. The myelinated nerve fibres demonstrated breaking of the myelin sheaths, apparent vacuoles, and broad axonal spaces. Immunohistochemically, there was a tremendous surge in GFAP-positive astrocytes in the lead acetate-treated group. These histological and ultrastructural variations were ameliorated by the administration of alpha-tocopherol and the combination of allicin and vitamin B complex. Moreover, an apparent decrease in the number of GFAP-positive astrocytes was obvious in the protected groups. Conclusions: Although both alpha-tocopherol and the combination of allicin and vitamin B-complex can be used as possible adjuvant therapies to ameliorate nervous system ailments attributable to lead acetate, alpha-tocopherol showed more protective potential.