1.Changes to GFAP Immunoreactive Astrocytes in Medial Prefrontal Cortex Following Exposure to Chronic Stress and Antioxidant Supplementation in Rat Model
Mohd Asnizam Asari ; Faizah Md Nawi ; Mohammad Syabil Ikhwan Mohd Amin ; Nurul Aiman Mohd Yusof ; KNS Sirajudeen
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2023;19(No.2):35-41
Introduction: Astrocytes are responsible for many essential functions of neurons in CNS. It has been recognised that
chronic stress affects the morphology of astrocyte. Natural antioxidant such as honey has been used as one of the
therapeutic strategies to lessen the damaging effect of chronic stress on our body. Therefore, the aim of the study is
to explore the effect of natural antioxidant, Tualang honey (TH) on the morphology of astrocytes following chronic
stress exposure. Methods: Thirty-two male rats were randomly divided into the 4 groups: (i) control, (ii) stress, (iii)
honey, (iv) stress plus honey groups.TH was administered via oral gavage at dose of 1.0 g/kg body weight pre and
post experiment. Chronic stress was exposed to animals in group (ii) and (iv) for consecutive 21 days. Anti GFAP
immunohistochemistry method was employed to label astrocytes in the medial prefrontal cortex. The number of
GFAP+ astrocytes and several parameters related to astrocyte processes were measured. Results: The present study
showed that chronic stress reduced the GFAP immunoreactive astrocyte number and percentage of GFAP immunoreactive material. Chronic stress also caused a reduction in astrocyte process ramification as indicated by a reduction
in astrocyte total number of processes, average length of processes and maximum number of intersections. However,
antioxidant treatment using TH could not reverse these stress-induced changes to the astrocytes. Conclusion: These
results demonstrate that chronic stress decreases the number of GFAP immunoreactive astrocyte and cause shrinking
of astrocyte processes in stress-sensitive brain region, but these changes cannot be reversed by antioxidant treatment.
2.Protective Effects of Tualang Honey on the Testes of Rats Subjected to Chronic Combined Stress
Faizah Md Nawi ; Mohd Asnizam Asari ; Haziq Hazman Norman ; Nurul Aiman Mohd Yusof ; Mohamad Syabil Ikhwan Mohd Amin
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2024;20(No.2):34-41
Introduction: Persistent exposure to stress can lead to a wide range of pathological effects, including reproductive
dysfunctions. Tualang honey, renowned for its antioxidant properties has been utilised in traditional and modern
medicine. This study aims to investigate the protective effects of Tualang honey against stress-induced testicular
damage in male rats. Method: Twenty-four male rats were divided into control group, stress-exposed group, Tualang-honey-supplemented group and stress-exposed with Tualang-honey-supplemented group. Restraint stress test
(RST) and Forced swimming test (FST) were imposed on the rats for 21 days. Serum testosterone and corticosterone
concentration were measured using ELISA. Testes were harvested, weighed, processed and stained for spermatid
counts and measuring seminiferous epithelial height and diameter. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was
used to compare the numerical data between groups. Results: The testosterone concentration, spermatid count,
seminiferous epithelial height and diameter in stress group were significantly lower compared to control group (p <
0.05). Corticosterone concentration was significantly greater in the stress group than in the control group. The spermatid count and seminiferous epithelial height and diameter of honey-treated groups were significantly higher than
the stress-only group (p < 0.05). The corticosterone concentration of honey-treated groups was significantly higher
compared to the stress-only group. Meanwhile, the testosterone concentration of honey-treated groups was higher
than the stress-only group although the results were insignificant. Conclusion: Tualang honey has the potential to
ameliorate corticosterone concentration and induce morphological alterations by increasing spermatid counts and
seminiferous epithelial thickness and diameter in rat testes exposed to prolonged stress.