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Abstract

Objective: To observe the radioprotective role, if any, of Methylcobalamin on Purkinje cell diameter in irradiated cerebel-lum of young albino rat.Methodology: This experiment was carried out at Hamdard University's Department of Anatomy in Karachi from Febru-ary to May 2024. Fifty newborn albino rats were randomly assigned to five groups: A (control), B, C, D, and E. Each group was subsequently separated into two subgroups based on two and four-week observation intervals. Group B: Re-ceived a single dose of 3 Gy gamma radiation on the eighth postnatal day (PND). Group C received the identical irradia-tion treatment as Group B, followed by intraperitoneal delivery of methylcobalamin (200 μg/kg/day). Group D: treated with methylcobalamin from PND 1 and irradiated on PND 8. Group E received methylcobalamin from PND 1 without irradiation. Brains were dissected, the cerebellum was prepared for histology, and Purkinje cell diameters were meas-ured.Results: A marked reduction (p < 0.001) in Purkinje cell diameter was observed in subgroups B1 and B2 compared to controls A1 and A2. methylcobalamin treatment in irradiated animals (Group C) resulted in significant (p < 0.05) recov-ery of Purkinje cell size compared to Group B. Pre-treatment with methylcobalamin (Group D) produced a moderately significant (p < 0.01) improvement. In non-irradiated methylcobalamin-treated rats (Group E), cell diameters increased significantly (p < 0.05 in E1 vs A1; p < 0.001 in E2 vs A2).Conclusion: Gamma irradiation caused noticeable cerebellar damage and reduced Purkinje cell size. Methylcobalamin administration mitigated these effects, indicating a potential neuroprotective role against radiation-induced injury.Key words: Purkinje cells, Methylcobalamin, irradiation, Cerebellum, Albino Rat