A novel insight on chronic AlCl3 neurotoxicity through IL-6 and GFAP expressions: modulating effect of functional food fenugreek seeds.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to review the effect of chronic aluminium exposure on interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion in the posterior brain and test the putative modulating effect of fenugreek seeds.


METHODS
Female Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control; AlCl3 during 5 months (500 mg/kg body weight, intragastric for 1 month then 1600 ppm via the drinking water); AlCl3 plus fenugreek seed powder (FSP) (5%) during the last 2 months and FSP alone.


RESULTS
Oral administration of aluminium chloride during 5 months caused hypoproduction of IL-6 together with a decrease in GFAP reactivity and an alteration of antioxidant status in the posterior brain. On the other hand, fenugreek seeds supplementation was able to enhance IL-6 expression, re-increase GFAP reactivity, and modulate the pro-oxidant-related effect.


CONCLUSIONS
In the context of recent researches, IL-6 hypoproduction in the posterior brain could be a novel mechanism of Al chronic toxicity with a direct effect on glial cells. Using FSP as a diet supplement could offer a neuroprotective effect against Al toxicity. This could be mediated by astroglial cells protection, antioxidant and immunomodulatory actions.
Laboratory of Histology and Cytogenetic (Research unit of Genetic 02/UR/08-03), Faculty of Medicine, Monastir, Tunisia. yosrabelaid@gmail.com
Yosra
Y
Belaïd-Nouira
Hayfa
H
Bakhta
Samar
S
Samoud
Mounir
M
Trimech
Zohra
Z
Haouas
Hassen
H
Ben Cheikh
D000077410:Aluminum Chloride; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002712:Chlorides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D029910:Trigonella
D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D000975:Antioxidants; D002712:Chlorides; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000077410:Aluminum Chloride; C056164:fenugreek seed meal