Potential protective effect of phycocyanin against gibberellic acid-induced cerebellar toxicity in female rats and their offspring

Gibberellic acid (GA3), a widely used plant growth regulator, enhances plant size and availability; however, its potential cerebellar toxic effects during pregnancy and lactation remain unclear. The possible neuroprotective role of phycocyanin (PC), a natural antioxidant pigment, against GA3-induced cerebellar toxicity has not been thoroughly investigated, particularly in pregnancy and lactation. Accordingly, the present study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of PC against GA3-induced cerebellar toxicity in mother rats and their offspring. A total of twenty-four pregnant Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group I (Control) received the vehicle. Group II (PC-treated): received PC (200 mg/kg body weight). Group-III (GA3-treated): received GA3 (55 mg/kg body weight). Group IV (GA3 +PC-treated): received both GA3 (55 mg/kg body weight) and PC (200 mg/kg body weight). All treatments were administered daily via the oral route to the mothers throughout pregnancy and for two weeks after delivery. Light-microscopic and ultrastructural analysis of the cerebellar cortex was performed. The oxidative stress parameters glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in cerebellar tissues were assessed. The data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA (Python and Google CoLab). The results revealed that GA3 administration caused degenerative alterations and damage in the cerebellar cortex, as well as significant oxidative stress, evidenced by increased LPO and decreased GPX and SOD levels in female rats and their offspring. On the other hand, co-administration of PC significantly ameliorated the histological and biochemical alterations induced by GA3 exposure. These findings suggest that PC supplementation may offer a promising protective strategy against GA3-induced cerebellar toxicity in both mother rats and their offspring.