Open AccessBeneficial Effects of Olive Oil on the Rats’ Cerebellum: Functional and Structural Evidence
Author(s) -
Ali Noorafshan,
Reza Asadi-Golshan,
Mahboobeh Erfanizadeh,
Saied KarbalayDoust
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
folia medica/folia medica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.245
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1314-2143
pISSN - 0204-8043
DOI - 10.2478/folmed-2018-0022
Subject(s) - cerebellum , analysis of variance , olive oil , rotarod performance test , zoology , chemistry , medicine , biology , food science , motor activity
Background: Olive oil is a food additive and used in many biological studies as a solvent for other chemicals, including drugs. Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of olive oil on rats’ cerebellum structure and motor function. Materials and methods: Male rats were randomly divided into two groups orally receiving distilled water and olive oil (1 ml/kg/day). At the end of week 4, motor function was assessed in the rotarod test. The cerebellum was removed for stereo-logical assessment. Data were analyzed using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA for rotarod test and Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test for quantitative histological parameters. Results: Performance of the olive oil-treated rats in fixed and accelerating speed rotarod was better and their riding time (endurance) was greater compared to the control group (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was found between the two groups regarding the total volume of the cerebellar hemisphere, its cortex, and deep cerebellar nuclei. The total number of the Purkinje, Bergman, and Golgi of the granular layer as well as neurons of the deep cerebellar nuclei was 26 - 36% higher in the olive oil-treated rats than in the distilled water treated group (p<0.03). Conclusion: The study findings suggest that olive oil has neuroprotective effects on the cerebellum and induces better performance of the rats in the rotarod.