Journal of Environmental Biology

Correlation studies on pathological changes in brain with neurotransmitters and behavioural changes in Balb/c mice

G. Balaji¹, S.N. Sinha¹*, M.V. Surekha², V. Kasturi¹, S.K. Mungamuri¹ and P. Shashikala³

¹Division of Food Safety, Indian Council of Medical Research - National Institute of Nutrition, Jamai-osmania, Hyderabad- 500 007, India

²Division of Pathology and Microbiology, Indian Council of Medical Research - National Institute of Nutrition, Jamai-osmania, Hyderabad- 500 007, India

³Department of pharmacy, University college of Technology, Osmania University, Hyderabad-500 027, India

*Corresponding Author Email : sukeshnr_sinha@yahoo.com

Received: 05.01.2021                                                                                  Revised: 23.05.2021                                                                      Accepted: 09.07.2021

Abstract

Aim: To determine the plasma neurotransmitters simultaneously and to find any correlation with pathological changes in the hippocampus and Purkinje cells and their relation with behavioral changes in Balb/c mice.

Methodology: In the present study, both sexes of Balb /C mice were divided into two groups (4 males and 4 females; n = 8): Both the groups were given a single dose of either saline or sodium valproate (400mg kg^-1) respectively through subcutaneous injection on PND 14. Behavioural tests were conducted on mice pups on various postnatal days till 40th day. On PND 41, blood samples were collected from all the animals for quantification of the neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenalin) in plasma, animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and whole brain was isolated for histological examination of the Purkinje cells and hippocampus.

Results: Sodium valproate exposed animals showed loss of motor skill development (delayed negative geotaxic response), increased locomotor activity, increased anxiety, and retardation in water maze performance, and lower  social interaction. Histopathological evolutions of cerebellum purkinje cells and hippocampus showed 40-50% atrophic cells in sodium valproate animals compared to control animals.

Interpretation: The results of the present study indicate that Sodium valproate changes specific brain cell population in Balb/C mice, which might be the reason for the altered neurotransmitter levels, leading to behavioural changes in these animals.       

Key words: Altered behaviour, ASD animal model, Plasma neurotransmitters, PND 14 BALB/c, Sodium valproate

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