Neoroprotective effects of vitamin C on injured hippocampal neurons by impulse noise Experimental study

Abstract

Purpose: Intense impulse noise can damage the neurons of the hippocampus, cerebral cortex and hypothalamus. These pathologic entities may be responsible for serious behavioral and mental disorders in exposed to impulse noise survivors. Also, believed that vitamin C has a neuroprotective effects via its' antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate neuroprotective effects of vitamin C on injured hippocampal neurons. Methods: Fourteen hybrit rabbits were exposed to 90 dB impulse voice (which listening at various social activities) at doses of 5×60 min/day in an equal time intervals for two months. Only half of these animals supplemenred with vitamin C and the others feeded with standart foods. After two months, all animals were sacrified under general anesthesia and their brains were fixed with % 10 formaline solution. Later, 5 ~tm hippocampal sections were taken and stained with H&E. Physical dissector method was used to evaluate the numbers of living and degenerated neurons in each hippocampus. Numerical density of neurons and nuclear height were measured. The results were analysed by statistically. Results: The numerical density of neurons and nuclear height in the hippocampus in vitamin C group was 15.9mm3 and 4.8nm. In contrast, in the non-treated group had a neuronal numerical density of 12.50mm3 and a nuclear height of 3.0nm. There was a significant difference in both the mean density of neurons and the mean height of nuclei between vitamin C-treated and control groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Exposure to intense impulse noise may cause hippocampal injury and vitamin C treatment has important neuroprotective effects on the injured neurons resulted from impulse noise.