Quantitative Study of Volumetric Changes of Cerebellum in Male Adult Rat Following Lithium Administration

Abstract

BackgroundLithium is a drug for treatment of bipolar disorder by correcting mania and reducing depressive mood swings.ObjectivesIn this study, effects of Lithium on volumetric parameters of cerebellum were investigated using stereological methods.Materials and MethodsIn this experimental study, 20 sexually mature wistar male rats were selected and divided in two groups randomly (n = 10). Administration and control groups received continuously 0.1 percent Lithium carbonate solution and distilled water respectively with drinking water during a period of 12 weeks. Rat’s cerebellum excised and fixed in modified Lillie’s solution. Then tissues were dehydrated, cleared, and embedded in paraplast in random orientation, and exhaustively sectioned. Ten to twelve sections of ~ 5μm were sampled and stained from each cerebellum by systematic uniform random sampling. The whole section image projected on the table, and using Cavalier’s principle point-counting was employed to estimate the volumetric parameters. Data analyzed by nonparametric statistical test of Mann-Whitney, and differences between groups less than 0.05 considered significant.ResultsThere were no significant difference in terms of total volume but gray matter volume of cerebellum increased and white matter decreased in administration group significantly (P < 0.05).ConclusionsAdministration of 0.1% Lithium carbonate for a period of 12 weeks can affect cerebellar gray and white matters in rat.

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“…The volume of the cerebellum was estimated by using the Cavalieri’s principle method ( Heidari & Mahmoudzadeh-Sagheb, 2012 ). Cavalieri’s method allows for the estimation of total volume from area on a systemic-random sampling of sections through the objects.…”

“…On the average, 180–200 hits per cerebellum was counted. Volume of the cerebellum was determined by applying the following formula: , where t is the fixed thickness of the slabs of the cerebellum (5 μm), a/p is the area associated with each point of the grid, and ∑P refers to the total number of points that hit with the cerebellum cortex ( Heidari & Mahmoudzadeh-Sagheb, 2012 ). An average of 10 sections was counted per cerebellum.…”

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“…Points hitting the tumor were manually counted for volume estimation. The volumes were also estimated using the Cavalier’s principle of stereological methods as described in the previous studies 11,12 using the formula, V = t × [((SU) × d ) / SL]2 × Σ P , where t is the section thickness, SU is the scale unit (the real length of the scale marked on the CTs), d is the distance between two points in the point grid, SL is the scale length (the actual measure of the scale on CTs), and P is the number of points counted. All data have been entered into a previously prepared Microsoft excel spreadsheet for automatic calculation of the outcomes of the above formula and the statistical evaluation parameters, including the nugget variance and the coefficient of error.…”

“…Points hitting the tumor were manually counted for volume estimation. The volumes were also estimated using the Cavalier's principle of stereological methods as described in the previous studies 11,12 using the formula,…”

Stereological Analysis of the Brain in Methamphetamine Abusers Compared to the Controls

“…the volumes and volume densities of desired brain regions were estimated and compared between the 2 groups (35,36). All volumes of the desired regions of the brain were reported in cm 3 ( Figure 1).…”