Neurochemical changes related to ageing in the rat brain and the effect of DL-alpha-lipoic acid.
Age-related impairments of cognitive and motor function have been linked to a number of deleterious morphological and functional changes involving different areas of the brain. Loss of neurotransmitters, their receptors and responsiveness to neurotransmitters are key manifestations of neurological ageing and age-related disorders. In the present investigation we have evaluated the effect of DL-alpha-lipoic acid on neurotransmitters in discrete brain regions of young and aged rats. The levels of neurotransmitters were found to be lowered in aged rats. Moreover, DL-alpha-lipoic acid treated aged rats showed a increase in the status of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. The results of this study provide evidence that DL-alpha-lipoic acid (a potent antioxidant) treatment can improve neurotransmitters during ageing. Hence, it can be concluded that DL-alpha-lipoic acid act as a potent neuromodulator in the brain of aged rats.
Arivazhagan
P
P
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Dr AL Mudaliar Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai 600 113, India.
Panneerselvam
C
C
D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000975:Antioxidants; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine