Neurotoxicological and morphological evaluation of the effects of aluminum hydroxide on the brain of rats with chronic exposure

Authors:
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Aluminum hydroxide [Al(OH3] is widely used in medicine as a component of antacids and as an adjuvant in vaccines. However, its safety during chronic alimentary exposure remains a subject of debate, particularly in the context of potential accumulation in the central nervous system and neurotoxic effects. Aluminum is a common metal, the effects of which on the central nervous system raise serious scientific concerns. The aim of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the effects of chronic aluminum hydroxide administration on neurobehavioral characteristics, histomorphological structure, and essential element metabolism in the rat brain. A chronic alimentary exposure model using varying doses of aluminum was used. The results showed dosedependent accumulation of aluminum in the brain and a statistically significant increase in magnesium levels at high doses. Changes in iron levels were inconsistent, while calcium levels remained stable. Behavioral tests revealed no significant cognitive impairment, indicating that the animals retained cognitive resilience during chronic exposure to the selected doses of aluminum. The histological analysis revealed no signs of significant neurodegeneration or gross structural pathologies in the brain tissue samples. A significant limitation of this phase of the study is the lack of standardized sampling of identical cortical areas for all animals, which precludes quantitative comparative conclusions regarding neurodegenerative changes. Thus, the data obtained expand our understanding of the multifaceted neurotoxic effects of aluminum during chronic exposure and highlight the need for further research into the mechanisms of its action on brain function and structure.

This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit: