Effects of Soya Beans and Brown Beans in Degenerative Changes Expressed in Cortical Neun Immunoreactivity in a Casava-Induced Konzo Disease Rat Model

Abstract

Background: Konzo is related to a habit of long-term consumption of cassava; it is a chronic disease with quite different symptoms from acute cassava poisoning. The ameliorative effect of soya beans and brown beans in degenerative changes expressed in cortical NeuN immunoreactivity in a konzo disease rat model was investigated in the present study. Materials and Methods: 30 male wistar rats weighing 200-250g were assigned to Group 1 (Control, n=5) and was fed on animal pellet, whereas Group 2 (Protein, n=5) was administered with protein food (Soya beans+Brown bean). Bitter cassava flour was provided to Group 3 (cassava-induced Konzo, n=15). Protein (Soya beans+Brown bean) and bitter cassava flour were administered to Group 4 (protein treatment group, n=5). The Cerebrum (primary motor cortex) region was harvested through transcardiac perfusion for histological and immunohistochemical staining. Image J was used to quantify the neurons in the motor cortex. We examined general structures in the primary motor cortex with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain. Result and Discussion: H&E demonstration showed distinct pyramidal neurons with large round nucleus, and prominent nucleoli in the Control group. Interspersed between the pyramidal neurons were numerous glia cells. Protein (Soya beans+Brown bean) group, Cassava group, and Cassava + Protein group also showed intact histology of the cortex compared to control usig H&E stain. NeuN stains analyzed immunoreactive neurons. The rats fed on cassava showed significant decrease in the NeuN immunoreactive neurons at ***[p<.001] compared to the Control and Protein administered group, whereas Cassava + Protein groups showed decrease NeuN immunoreactive neurons at**p<0.1 compared to Protein group(Soya beans+Brown bean). Conclusions: This study has provided an empirical data on the ameliorative effect of soya beans and brown beans supplement on Cassava-induced konzo disease animal model. This data will be very useful to Anatomists, konzo researchers and neuroscientist.