الفهرس 
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Abstract
Aspartame (ASP) is the most widely used artificial sweeteners. It is a methyl ester of a dipeptide (L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester). It enters in the component of many foods. It had about 200 fold higher sweetness than sucrose.
Aspartame is hydrolyzed in the intestine to its components: phenylalanine, aspartate and methanol. Each one of these components are toxic and affect different body organs mainly the central nervous system.
Stevia sweetener extractives have been suggested to exert
beneficial effects on human health, including antihypertensive
anti-hyperglycemic ,antioxidant and no cariogenic effect. These sweetener are also thought to influence glucose metabolism andrenal function .
Aim of the study: compare the effect of both aspartame and stevia on cerebellar cortex of rats.
Material and methods:
15 adult male rats were used & divided into 3 groups;
1- GroupI was the control.
2- GroupIIwas given aspartame, 250 mg/kg daily orally
3- GroupIII was given stevia (250 mg/kg daily, orally).
The doses were given orally for 4 weeks, then the the rats were sacrificed by decapitation then the skulls were opened and the brains were extracted.The cerebellum was removed immediatelyand processesed for light and electrone microscope.
Results:
With light microscope rats treated with aspartame showedthat the purkinje cells appeared shrunken withloss of their piriformshape ,cytoplasmhad destructed organelles .up to completely degenerated cells,Granular cells appeared crowded with area of empty spaces.
With electron microscope Purkinje cells appeared smaller than normal one .nucleus appeared small with less condensed chromatin . The cytoplasm contained many inclusion body, dilated Rough endoplasmic reticulum ,and destructed mitochondria
Granular cell appeared irregular in shaped with destructed nucleus condensedchromatin ,cytoplasm had destructedorganelles.
Rats treated with stevia show Purkinje cells loss itspiriform shape ill-defined nuclei surrounded by cytoplasm with destructed organelles up to completely destructed cells.
With electron microscope purkinje cell ppearedwith eccentric rounded nucleus .The nuclear membrane showed gentle irregularities .The chromatin material of nuclei is dense.
Conclusions:
Stevioside and aspartame appeared to have a harmful effect on the structure of the cerebellar cortex .Were found that diameter of purkinje cells nuclei in both of them signufiantly decrease compare to control one .
While aspartame affect on thickness of granular cell more than stevia,were in aspartame its thickness significantly decrease compare to control while in stevia no significant difference with control one.
Recommendation:
there is no sweetener, whether natural or artificial, that is completely safe and diet control is the safest choice.more studies should be done on the cerebellar nuclei &white matter.