Developmental defects of cerebral cortex in maternally diabetic and aluminum intoxicated rat pups and their amelioration by Morus alba

The present study aimed to investigate the possible ameliorative effect of crude water extract of Morus alba leaves on developmental defects of cerebral cortex of rat pups maternally subjected to diabetes and/or aluminum (Al) intoxication. One hundred and forty fertile male and virgin female albino rats were used for the experimentation. The pregnant rats were arranged into seven groups. The study included five integrated approaches and all proved that treatment with Morus alba leaves extract led to a marked amelioration for the developmental defects caused by either diabetes or Al intoxication at all levels of the study. At the ultrastructural level, the cerebral cortex of the latter exhibited massive cytological alterations of Purkinje cells (PC) and Karyolysis of chromatin material. The cytoplasm appeared translucent and enclosed by either fragmented or vesiculated RER. Mitochondria appeared electron-dense with ill-differentiated cristae. Cytoplasmic vacuoles were detected. However, pups of mothers received Morus alba extract and subjected to Al intoxication and/or diabetes showed partial amelioration of cytological structure of PC. The nuclear envelope was regularly arranged and enclosed by normal euchromatin. The cytoplasmic organelles were rearranged and approximately restored their pattern. It can therefore be concluded that leaves extract of Morus alba has marked ameliorative effects against developmental defects of cerebral cortex in pups of diabetic and Al intoxicated pregnant albino rats.