The protective and reversal effects of 6-gingerol-rich sample of Zingiber officinale on the hippocampal damage caused by mercury chloride in male Wistar rats: Immunohistochemical studies

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of 6-gingerol-rich sample (6-GRS) of Zingiber officinale on hippocampal dysfunctions caused by mercury chloride (HgCl2) in male Wistar rats. Fifty (50) male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two phases: pre-treatment and post-treatment phases, with each phase consisting of five groups and five animals in each group. HgCl2 was administered to induce hippocampal damage, while 6-GRS was used to treat for a period of 14 days. All the drugs were administered orally. The rats were then euthanized to obtain brain tissues (CA3 and dentate gyrus) for the immunohistochemical study (glia fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neuronal density (NeuN). The result revealed that HgCl2 exposure causes a significant (p<0.05) increase in the GFAP immunoreactivity and a significant (p<0.05) decrease in NeuN of the CA3 and the dentate gyrus, However, 6-GRS significantly (p<0.05) increased brain NeuN, and decreased GFAP immunoreactivity of the CA3 and the dentate gyrus. This study concludes that 6-GRS protects against and ameliorates hippocampal dysfunctions caused by HgCl2 via reversal of astrocytes reactivity and reduction of neuronal density.