Ghada A.  Abdel-Hamid, Samar M. Al  Saggaf, Magda  Hagras, Hamid A.  Saleh, 
    Does Selenium Ameliorate Toxic Effects of Prenatal Aluminium on Brain of Full Term Rat Fetuses?,
    Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances,
    Volume 11,Issue 19,
    2012,
    Pages 3588-3592,
    ISSN 1680-5593,
    javaa.2012.3588.3592,
    (https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=javaa.2012.3588.3592)
    Abstract: Aluminum (Al) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of dialysis dementia and Alzheimer&#146;s diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of selenium on fetal parietal cortex treated with aluminum chloride. Eighty pregnant rats were divided into two groups (Control and Aluminium). Aluminium treated group was given oral AlCl<SUB>3</SUB> (150 mg kg<SUP>-1</SUP> body weight/day) for 3 months before mating. Pregnant rats were randomly divided in to four groups (20 dams in each), control, Al-treated, control + Selenium (200 &#956;g/kg/day) and Al + Selenium. Al and Selenium was administered through intragastric tube from GD1 to GD20. All growth parameters significantly reduced in all Al-treated groups. AlCl<SUB>3</SUB> induced increase thickness of pia matter and increase glia fibers in the molecular layer, disruption, shrinkage and degeneration of neurons in all cortical layers. Parietal cortex in fetuses treated with selenium and AlCl<SUB>3</SUB> had nearly control appearance. Also, AlCl<SUB>3 </SUB>induced significant reduction of layer I and the total thickness of parietal cortex. Selenium when added to AlCl<SUB>3</SUB> significantly reduced all harmful effect of AlCl<SUB>3</SUB> on fetal growth parameters, histopathological changes and increased thickness of layer I of parietal cortex in rat fetuses when compared with control. It is concluded that oral AlCl<SUB>3</SUB> had deleterious effects on cerebral cortex of rat fetuses whereas selenium alleviated these negative effects.
    Keywords: Aluminium;fetus;selenium;brain;neurons