Abstract
The possible antidepressant role of Hyoscyamus muticus on the damage of the frontal cortex for gestational depression on mother and offspring. The present work was to evaluate the toxicological effect of Hyoscyamus muticus on frontal cortex of the brain tissue of pregnant female rats, and comparing these changes with those induced by anti-depressant drugs. 25 adult female and ten male albino rats were mating and divided into five groups: Control non-pregnant, pregnant, postpartum, Hyoscyamus treated & Anafranil treated groups. Hyoscyamus extract and drug ( Anafranil) were administered in dose of dose of 17.5-25 mg and 15mg/kg respectively orally for rat from the first day of fertilization to parturition. respectively for rat orally from the first day of fertilization to parturition. The frontal cortex were processed and stained by H&E, Congo red & immunoreaction of SERT and Transmission Electron Microscopy. Morphometric analysis for thickness of cortex and immunoreaction area percent were performed and statically analyzed. Results: Hyoscyamus showed more improvements than Anafranil for mothers and offspring. Anafranil showed normal cells, congested blood vessels and mild amount of amyloid plaques. TEM showed degenerated mitochondria and extensive fragmented RER in mothers also, decreased size of layers, normal granular and pyramidal cells. TEM showed nucleus with fragmented chromatin, degenerated mitochondria, fragmented rough endoplasmic reticulum RER and vacuolated cytoplasm in off springs. Conclusion: Hyoscyamus treatment exerted ameliorated effects against pregnancy-induced damage on mother while not offspring, but Anafranil showed some deleterious effects on mother and offspring.