Plant-derived flavanol (-)epicatechin enhances angiogenesis and retention of spatial memory in mice.
Diet and exercise have a profound impact on brain function. In particular, natural nutrients found in plants may influence neuronal survival and plasticity. Here, we tested whether consumption of a plant-derived flavanol, (-)epicatechin, enhances cognition in sedentary or wheel-running female C57BL/6 mice. Retention of spatial memory in the water maze was enhanced by ingestion of (-)epicatechin, especially in combination with exercise. Improved spatial memory was associated with increased angiogenesis and neuronal spine density, but not newborn cell survival, in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Moreover, microarray analysis showed upregulation of genes associated with learning and downregulation of markers of neurodegeneration in the hippocampus. Together, our data show that ingestion of a single flavanol improves spatial memory retention in adult mammals.
van Praag
Henriette
H
Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Lucero
Melanie J
MJ
Yeo
Gene W
GW
Stecker
Kimberly
K
Heivand
Neema
N
Zhao
Chunmei
C
Yip
Ed
E
Afanador
Mia
M
Schroeter
Hagen
H
Hammerstone
John
J
Gage
Fred H
FH
D000818:Animals; D002392:Catechin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D044950:Flavanones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D044950:Flavanones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002392:Catechin