PAN AFRICAN JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES
e-ISSN: 2672-5924
Volume 5, No. 1, April 2021
Pages 204-213
DOI: 10.36108/pajols/1202/50.0150
The Cerebellum under Stress: Dietary African Walnut (Tetracarpidium conophorum)Abrogates Oxidative Stress-driven Neuropathology induced by Chronic Unpredictable Stress
Taiwo A. Abayomi1*,Olorunfemi S. Tokunbo1, Esther Ojelade1, Olawale A. Abayomi2, Olusola E. Yawson3, Yemisi D. Ogunrinde1
1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Osun StateUniversity, PMB 4494, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
2Department of Radiology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Ekiti State University, Ekiti State, Nigeria
3Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State.
Abstract
Background: Consumption of a healthy diet abundant in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals, offers an effective and least expensive way to prevent neurodegeneration. Herein, the role of Tetracarpidium conophorum (African walnut) enriched diet in chronic stress-induced cerebellar neuropathology was investigated
Methodology: Twenty-one male Wistar rats were used for this investigation. Rats were randomly assigned into three groups (A, B, and C), each consisting of 7 rats (n = 7). Group A (Control group) were fed control diet; group B rats were subjected to different chronic unpredictable stressors (CUS) + control diet for 21 days, while group C rats were subjected to CUS + Walnut-enriched diet for 21 days. Serum corticosterone levels, the expression level of antioxidant and inflammatory markers, and cytoarchitectural changes in cerebellum were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) immunohistochemistry methods.
Results: The walnut-enriched diet prevented astrogliosis, modulated serum corticosterone expression, and tumor necrotic factor-α in the cerebellum. The walnut-enriched diet also caused an improvement in the antioxidant profile, indicating that it suppressed chronic unpredictable stress-induced perturbations.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that African walnut exerts protective effects against oxidative stress-driven dysfunction by reducing serum corticosterone levels, modulating oxidative stress pathways, and preventing neuronal morphological damage in the cerebellum.
Keywords: African Walnut, Oxidative stress, Cerebellum, Chronic unpredictable stress