The Effect of Chronic Aluminium Toxicity on Fungiform and Circumvallate Papillae of Albino Rat and the Possible Protective Role of Ginger Co-administration

Abstract

Aluminium is a trivalent cation found in its ionic form in most kinds of animal and plant tissues as well as in natural waters everywhere.javascript:showcontent('active','references'); It is the third most prevalent element and the most abundant metal in the earth's crust. Urban water supplies may contain a greater concentration of Al because water is usually treated with this element before becoming part of the supply. Subsequent purification processes further increase Al concentration. Animal studies indicated that oral exposure of aluminium leads to its accumulation in the brain, kidney, muscle and other organs. Al is also present in food that has been cooked or stored in Al pots and Al foil is another source of Al administration. Food additives are considered an additional source of Al in human bodies. They are added to cake mixes, frozen dough, pancake mixes, self-rising flours, processed cheese and beer. In addition, Tobacco contains considerable amounts of Al. Experimental Al administration had lead to decreased rate of bone formation in rats. Moreover, Al had direct cellular effects upon bone cells. Al also exerted toxic effect to the hepatocytes and was toxic to the retina a well. Many studies have indicated that Al had destructive haematological effects, such as reducing the deformability of erythrocytes and producing peroxidative changes in the erythrocytes membrane, leading to haemolysis. It was recently established that antioxidants play a major role in limiting the harmful effects of Al on different body tissues. One of the most important natural antioxidants is ginger, so the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of chronic aluminium toxicity on the structure of fungiform and circumvallate papillae of Albino rats and to assess the possible protective role of ginger co-administration on it.

Materials and Methods

Forty five adult male albino rats five months old and weighing around 250 grams each were used in the present study. Rats were housed in the animal house of The Medical Research Centre of Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, and were kept in wire mesh dated-cages, five rats each, under 12 hours dark/light cycle. The rats were fed bread and milk. Tap water was available adlibitum. Strict hygiene protocols were applied and maintained under supervision of specialized veterinarian throughout the course of the experiment. After 7 days of acclimatization, animals were randomly, evenly divided into three groups: (15 rats each).

Group I (Control Group) In which rats were daily given 1 ml of distilled water orally, for 90 consecutive days.

Group II (Al group) Rats of this group received an oral daily dose of AlCl3 (0.5mg/ kg of body weight) dissolved in 1ml of distilled water, for 90 consecutive days