Comparative Study between Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Flax Seeds Oil against Toxicity of Lead Acetate on the Spinal Cord Tissue of Male Albino Rats

Abstract

Background: Lead is a common heavy metal that persists in the environment and has many toxic effects on the central nervous system, especially the spinal cord. Objective: The current study investigates the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and flax seeds oil (FSO) on the spinal cord tissue against lead acetate toxicity in male albino rats. Materials and Methods: Forty adult male albino rats were divided equally into four groups. The first group served as control rats. The second group received lead acetate (100 mg/kg) intraperitoneally daily for seven days. Group 3 after lead acetate intoxication then treated with a single dose of MSCs (1 × 10 6 cells/rat intravenously injection). In the 4 th group 3 after lead acetate intoxication then rats were treated orally with FSO (1 ml/kg) for thirty days. At the end of the experiment, spinal cord tissues were collected to determine the lead level in the spinal cord, histopathology, immunohistochemistry for cleavage caspase3, and estimate DNA damage by comet assay. Results: Our results revealed significantly increased lead concentration in spinal cord tissue in group 2. In addition to, upregulation of cleavage caspase 3 and elevation of DNA damage in the spinal cord tissue and histopathological alterations in spinal cord tissues. Nevertheless, the treatment of MSCs and FSO groups recorded a decline in lead levels in the spinal cord tissue and downregulation of cleaved caspase 3 and DNA damage and histopathological improvement. Conclusion: Our investigation showed that MSCs are more effective than FSO against lead acetate induced toxicity.