title: Combination of N-acetylcysteine, α-lipoic acid and α-tocopherol substantially prevents the brain synaptosomal alterations and memory and learning deficits of aged rats.
abstract: This study has compared several synaptosomal parameters in three groups of rats: young (46 months), aged (22-24 months) and antioxidant supplemented aged rats (antioxidant supplementation given with the diet as a combination of N-acetylcysteine, α-lipoic acid and α-tocopherol from 18 months onwards till 22-24 months). The synaptosomes from aged rat brain, in comparison to those of young animals, exhibit an increased membrane potential with altered contents of Na(+) and K(+) under basal incubation condition and in the presence of depolarizing agents. The intrasynaptosomal Ca(2+) is also higher in aged than in young rat. These age-dependent changes in synaptosomal parameters are prevented markedly in the antioxidant supplemented group. When examined on T-maze, the aged animals are noticeably impaired in learning and memory functions, but the deficit is remarkably prevented in the antioxidant supplemented aged animals. It is suggested that the synaptosomal alterations partly contribute to the cognitive deficits of aged animals, and both are rescued by long-term antioxidant supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, 244, A J C Bose Road, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Ishita Guha
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Thakurta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, 244, A J C Bose Road, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Priyanjalee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, 244, A J C Bose Road, Kolkata, India. Electronic address: baghmb@mail.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Maria Bindu
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Bagh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, 244, A J C Bose Road, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Arindam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, 244, A J C Bose Road, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Arghyadip
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, 244, A J C Bose Road, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Sita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chattopadhyay
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, 244, A J C Bose Road, Kolkata, India. Electronic address: profschakrabarti95@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sasanka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D012964:Sodium; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium; D000111:Acetylcysteine
keywords: Antioxidant; Brain aging; Cognitive deficit; Ion channel; Membrane potential; Oxidative stress; Synaptosome