Comparison of behavioral and biochemical deficits in rats with hereditary defined or D-galactose-induced accelerated senescence: evaluating the protective effects of diosgenin.
One of the important factors in aging is oxidative stress and aging-related disturbances are believed be ameliorated by antioxidants. Diosgenin is a bio-active ingredient of dioscorea that is widely used in Chinese medicine, shows anti-oxidant activity and improves some aging-related deficits in senescent and menopausal animals. We compared alterations in behavior, biochemical parameters (plasma levels of the uric acid, creatinine, calcium, phosphate, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, and the plasma activity of aminotransferases AST and ALT), and sperm motility in two models of accelerated senescence (d-galactose-induced (150 mg/kg/day, i.p., 57 days) aging in Wistar rats vs. genetically defined in OXYS rats) and examined the protective effects of diosgenin (10 or 50mg/kg/day, p.o., 57 days). Both models had augmented levels of ALT activity indicating hepatopathology. Compared to d-galactose-treated animals, OXYS rats demonstrated profound biochemical alterations (hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and hypocholesterolemia) and behavioral deficits (impaired object recognition, decreased sexual motivation and locomotor activity, retarded learning) that confirmed the difference in the mechanisms of accelerated senescence in these models. We first showed diminished sperm motility in males of both models of accelerated senescence studied. Chronic diosgenin treatment failed to improve biochemical and behavioral disturbances and had some undesirable side effects on body weight and working memory in OXYS rats. However, diosgenin restored moderately decreased sperm motility in d-galactose-treated Wistar males and might be recommended for treatment of mild age-related reproductive dysfunctions.
Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia; State Research Institute of Physiology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia. Electronic address: mar-a-tikh@mail.ru.
Maria A
MA
Tikhonova
School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taiwan, ROC.
Ching-Han
CH
Yu
Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.
Nataliya G
NG
Kolosova
Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.
Ludmila A
LA
Gerlinskaya
Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.
Svetlana O
SO
Maslennikova
Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russia.
Alexandra V
AV
Yudina
Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia; State Research Institute of Physiology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.
Tamara G
TG
Amstislavskaya
School of Psychology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Chung Shan Medical University, Taiwan, ROC.
Ying-Jui
YJ
Ho
D019588:Aging, Premature / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D004144:Diosgenin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005690:Galactose / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D004144:Diosgenin; D005690:Galactose
Aging; Diosgenin; Object recognition; Rats; Sexual motivation; Sperm motility