Vitamin B Complex Protects Against Maternal Deprivation-Induced Cerebellar Damage in Adolescent Rats

Abstract

Maternal deprivation during the early neonatal period is linked to many neurodevelopmental disorders. This study was designed to investigate the protective action of vitamin B complex (Vit Bco) on maternal deprivation-induced cerebellar damage in Wistar rats. Pups were divided into four groups: control, which received 50 ml/kg of normal saline from postnatal day (PND) 21-35; Second group received 40 mg/kg of Vit Bco orally from PND 21-35; Third and fourth groups were maternally deprived for 24 h on PND 9, but the fourth group received Vit Bco in addition from PND 21-35. The pups were sacrificed on PND 36 and the cerebellar tissues were harvested and processed for histological and immunohistochemical studies, as well as oxidative status using enzymatic markers (superoxide dismutase and catalase). Cerebellar microarchitecture of maternally deprived pups revealed disruption of cortical layers, pyknotic Purkinje cells and activated astrocytes. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were significantly reduced in maternally deprived pups when compared with the control and the Vit Bco alone group. Pups that received Vit Bco after maternal deprivation had well-delineated cortical layout, moderately stained Purkinje cells and non-activated astrocytes, while the oxidative enzymes activities were increased compared with pups that did not receive Vit Bco intervention. Conclusively, Vit Bco ameliorates cerebellar histomorphological, neurochemical and oxidative alterations associated with maternal deprivation.