The Effect of Anethum Graveolens Extract on Structure and Number of Purkinje Cells of Cerebellum in Epileptic Mice

Cerebellum has the main role in balance and muscular tonicity. In the present study، the effect of aqueous Anethum graveolens extract on histological structure and number of Purkinje cells was investigated in epileptic mice. In this experimental study، 50 mice randomly divided in 5 groups of 10. 4 groups became epileptic by injecting 12 doses of 40 mg/kg pentylentetrazol during 24 days. Three groups received intraperitoneally the aqueous Anethum graveolens with doses of 250، 500 and 750 mg/kg. The fourth group received pentylentetrazol and normal saline and the fifth، only received normal saline. After the treatment period، cerebellum was dissected out. After histological passage and coronal cross-sectioning، hematoxyline-eosin staining was done and 40 fields were randomly selected and counted for normal neurons on Purkinje cells. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect morphological changes. Data were analyzes using ANOVA test. The mean number of normal neurons in mice received 500 mg/kg of aqueous extract of Anethum graveolens increased significantly more than the groups of 250 and 750 mg/kg (P < 0. 001); this difference was not significant between the groups which received 250 and 750 mg/kg of extract. The mean number of normal neurons of Purkinje cell was significantly lower in the group of normal and pentylentetrazol compared to control group. Different morphological changes as such as increased density of the nucleus and increased acidophilic cytoplasm of Purkinje cells were more in pentylentetrazol group compared to the groups received the aqueous of Anethum graveolens. Our result showed that the aqueous of Anethum graveolens can probably decrease the neurotoxic of the effect pentylentetrazol on structural neurons of Purkinje cells in epileptic mice.