Morphological and Biochemical Features of Cerebellar Cortex After Exposure to Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Possible Protective Role of Curcumin.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are widely used in the last decades. Therefore, investigation of its neurotoxic effect is important. This work aimed to investigate the potential adverse effects of ZnONPs on rat's cerebellar cortex and the possible neuroprotective role of curcumin (Cur). Forty male albino rats were randomly divided into four equal groups. Two groups were injected with ZnONPs and one group was previously received Cur before ZnONPs. At the end of the experiment, cerebellar tissue samples were prepared for histological, morphometric, immunohistochemical study, and tissue levels of oxidative stress markers and cytokine analysis. cerebellar damage is clearly visible with ZnONPs. Degeneration, loss, disorganization of cerebellar neurons was observed. Histopathological degeneration of Purkinje and granular cells together with loss of Nissl substance, astrocyte gliosis, and affection of cerebellar blood brain barrier were detected. Moreover, an apoptotic marker (caspase-3) was significantly expressed in Purkinje and granular layers together with elevated gene expression of P53 and COX-2 in cerebellar tissue of ZnONPs intoxicated group. Astrocyte gliosis and inflammatory markers IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α were expressed significantly in ZnONPs intoxicated cerebellum. These changes were associated with evidence of cerebellar oxidative stress. Strikingly, treatment with Cur together with ZnONPs recorded morphological improvement, with increased number of Purkinje cells and decreased caspase +ve cells. These findings were confirmed by morphometric and statistical analysis. Cur ameliorates the deterious effect of ZnONPs on the cerebellar cortex through its antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory efficacies. Anat Rec, 2018.