Adeshina Oloruntoba Adekeye

Neuroanatomy is widely recognised as a challenging discipline in medical education, with student engagement often limited by its complexity. Active learnin

Ephraim Samuel Jen, Adeshina Oloruntoba Adekeye , Mary Oluwatobiloba Adedigba, Edem Ekpeyong Edem, Musa Samaila Chiroma, Martha Orendu Oche Attah. J Pharmacopuncture 2026;29:48-60. https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2026.29.1.48

Pentazocine is an opioid used as an analgesic for treating moderate or severe pain. Its abusive use can trigger numerous deleterious effects. We examined the impact of pentazocine administration on the cerebellum of juvenile male mice, focusing on motor-social behaviours, lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, myeloperoxidase, nitric oxide, cyclooxygenase-2, tumour necrosis factor alpha, and sodium-potassium pump (Na+/K+-ATPase), serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase, as well as mitochondrial functions in the cerebellum of juvenile male mice. The mice were administered 0.25 mL/kg, 0.5 mL/kg, and 0.75 mL/kg of pentazocine dissolved in sterile water for injection s.c. twice daily for 14 days. The results of this study revealed that exposure to pentazocine triggers upregulated activities of increased respective levels of lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, myeloperoxidase, nitric oxide, cyclooxygenase-2, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha, respectively. Our data also showed that exposure to graded doses of pentazocine altered the respective levels of serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase, with a reduction in the activity of Na+/K+-ATPase. Our experiment further showed that exposure to pentazocine is linked to mitochondrial dysfunctions as well as neuronal degeneration in the cerebellum. Conclusively, our study reveals the significant neurotoxic effects of pentazocine, particularly on motor and social behaviour, along with notable biochemical and neuropathological changes in the cerebellar cortex. These findings suggest that the abusive use of pentazocine causes critical cellular and molecular alterations that contribute to neurotoxicity.

Damilare Adedayo Adekomi, John Olabode Fatoki, Titilayo Deborah Adesipe, Omowumi Oyeronke Adewale, Adesina Oloruntoba Adekeye, Temidayo Daniel Adeniyi, Opeyemi Samson Osuntokun, Babatunde Joseph Dare, Lukman Adeayo Yunus, Olumayowa Kolawole Idowu, Ismail Adetayo Lawal, Fatima Omowumi Hamzat. Anat Cell Biol -0001;0:. https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.24.116

Human and animal diseases have always been reported to be treated by medicinal herbs owing to their constituents. Excess sodium metavanadate is a potential environmental toxin when consumed and could induce oxidative damage leading to various neurological disorders and Parkinsons-like diseases. This study is designed to investigate the impact of the flavonoid Glycoside Fraction of Ginkgo Biloba Extract (GBE) (at 30 mg/kg body weight) on vanadium-treated rats. Animals were divided randomly into four groups: Control (Ctrl, normal saline), Ginkgo Biloba (GIBI, 30mg/kg BWT), Vanadium (VANA, 10 mg/kg BWT) and Vanadium + Ginkgo biloba (VANA + GIBI). Markers of oxidative stress (Glutathione Peroxidase and Catalase) were assessed and found to be statistically increased with GIBI when compared with CTRL and treatment groups. Results from routine staining revealed that the control and GIBI group had a normal distribution of cells and a pronounced increase in cell count respectively compared to the VANA group. When compared to the VANA group, the NeuN photomicrographs revealed that the levels of GIBI were within the normal range (***p < 0.001; ** p < 001). The treatment with GIBI showed a better response by increasing the neuronal cells in the VANA+GIBI when compared with the VANA group. The NLRP3 Inflammasome photomicrographs denoted that there was a decrease in NLRP3-positive cells in the control and GIBI groups. The treatment group shows fewer cells compared to that of the VANA group. The treatment group shows fewer cells compared to that of the VANA group. The findings of the study confirmed that ginkgo biloba extract via its flavonoid glycoside fraction has favorable impacts in modulating vanadium-induced brain damage with the potential ability to lower antioxidant levels and reduce neuroinflammation.

Adekeye AO, et al. Anat Cell Biol. 2020 Jan;53:e10. https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.19.205

Open access article on Histological Studies of Effect of Dichlorvos on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis published in Endocrinology And Hormones.