F. Bagirici et al., Neuroprotective effect of nicardipine on cadmium-induced Purkinje cell death in rat, cerebellum, NEUROSC R C, 29(2), 2001, pp. 99-105
The present study was designed to investigate the effects of nicardipine on
cadmium-induced Purkinje cell loss in cerebellum of rats. Animals were div
ided into three groups as control, cadmium and cadmium + nicardipine groups
. Saline, cadmium sulphate (0,0021 mg/kg) and cadmium sulphate (0,0021 mg/k
g) + nicardipine (1 mg/kg) were intracortically administered respectively.
All rats were observed for one week, but only the rats in the third group w
ere injected nicardipine (10 mg/kg/day, i.p.) during this period. One week
later, all rats were perfused intracardially. Series of frontal sections fr
om cerebella were stained with Thionin staining. Purkinje cells were counte
d under x400 magnification via a light microscope.
Cadmium administration caused 25-35 % decrease in Purkinje cell density in
Crus I, Crus II and Lobulus Simplex areas of cerebellum in cadmium group (p
<0.05). The Purkinje cell density was 16-23 % less in nicardipine-treated
group than control and cells were partially protected from toxic effects of
cadmium significantly (p <0.05).
These results suggest that cadmium has neurotoxic; effects on Purkinje cell
s in cerebellum and nicardipine may protect neurons from cadmium-induced to
xicity (p <0.05).