Evaluation of the effect of Donepezil hydrochloride on Ethanol‐induced hippocampal damage

Abstract Background Alcohol consumption has long been associated with brain damage. In particular, ethanol has direct effect on nerve cells and has been implicated in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Due to its high level of plasticity, the hippocampus is one of the most susceptible sites to neurotoxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a named cholinesterase inhibitor on ethanol‐induced brain damage Method Twenty‐one Wistar rats were placed into seven groups and housed in cages. They were fed with standard rat chow and water ad libitum . Six groups (groups A, B, C, D, E and F) were treatment groups and received ethanol while group G served as the control. Groups D, E and F received Donepezil hydrochloride after a week of ethanol administration while the first three groups continue to receive ethanol. After three weeks, the rats were dissected and the brain tissue were preserved in 10% formol saline. Histological examination was carried out on the hippocampus section using Haematoxylin and Eosin (H & E) staining procedure. Result The hippocampus was cut into sections and placed in a cassette. Findings revealed general degenerative changes in the treatment groups while the capillaries of the control group appeared without any form of congestion and microangiopathy. Group A specifically experienced autolysis while group F underwent glial cell vacuolation in response to neuronal cell injury induced by ethanol. Conclusion This study shows it is possible to ameliorate and probably reverse the neurotoxic effect of ethanol on the brain.