Abstract
Aflatoxins are mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus spp. which is a common contaminant of food items such as corn, spices, rice, nuts, and flour. Aflatoxin contamination of foods is a worldwide problem. Chronic aflatoxin exposure is found to be associated with Sciatic nerve damage. In vivo study was carried out to evaluate the toxic effect of aflatoxin B
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(AFB
1
) on the Sciatic nerve. Twenty-one adult male rats were included and divided equally into 3 groups (7 rats each): Group I (control group), group II (olive oil group) and group III: (AflatoxinB1 group). The rats received AFB
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(250 μg/kg B.W./day) orally by gastric tube 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Sciatic nerve specimens were prepared, and semi-thin sections were stained with Toluidine blue, examined by light microscope and photographed. Ultrathin sections (50-80 nm) from selected areas of the trimmed blocks were made, examined and photographed by transmission electron microscopy (JEOL-JSM-1011) in King Saud University Electron Microscopy Unit. The findings indicate that the administration of AFB
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to rats' results in degeneration in the sciatic nerve in the form of Wallerian degeneration in the myelin sheath. Macrophages appear to engulf the degenerated myelin and neutrophils.