Reversible Effects of Aspartame on the Cerebellum of Adult Albino Rats and Possible Underlying Mechanisms (Histological, Biochemical and Immunohistochemical Studies)

Abstract Background: Aspartame (ASP), a chemical sweetener, is believed to be unlikely to have negative impacts on the cere-bellar cortex. Aim of Study: Was to examine the histopathological chang-es in the cerebellar cortex of albino rats who received aspar-tame treatment and to assess the possibility of recovery from aspartame-induced cerebellar injury. Material and Methods: Twenty-four adult male albino rats were divided into four groups by random selection. The con-trol agroup received daily doses of distilled water for 8 weeks. The control b group received daily doses of distilled water for 14 weeks. The ASP group was administered 250mg/kg of as-partame orally for a duration of 8 weeks. The Recovery group received 250mg/kg/day of aspartame for eight weeks, followed by a subsequent six weeks of daily distilled water at a dosage equivalent to the prior aspartame dose. Subsequent to anesthe-sia, the cerebella were excised for immunohistochemical and histological investigations. Morphometric and statistical analy-ses were conducted, with assessments of nitric oxide (NO), re-duced glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in cerebellar tissue. Results: Comparative to the control group, the aspartame group exhibited a pronounced elevation in MDA and NO lev-els, concomitant with a reduction in GSH levels. The recovery group demonstrated diminished MDA and NO levels, coupled with a significant escalation in GSH levels compared to the aspartame group. Histologically, the cerebellar cortex of the aspartame group manifested neurodegenerative features and apoptosis, both of which were mitigated in the recovery group. Conclusion: Aspartame consumption manifests reversible deleterious effects on the cerebellar cortex.