title: A high dose of short term exogenous D-galactose administration in young male rats produces symptoms simulating the natural aging process.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  D-Galactose (D-gal) induced accelerated senescence has been used to develop an aging model for brain. Previously, long term administration of a wide range of doses has been used for this purpose. In the present study we investigate whether short term administration of a high dose of D-gal in rats induces significant signs and symptoms similar to natural aging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young rats were injected intraperitoneally with D-gal at a dose of 300 mg/ml/kg for one week. Behavioral analysis for depression and anxiety like symptoms were monitored by forced swim test (FST) and light/dark transition (LDT) test. Assessment of memory was done using the Morris water maze (MWM), passive avoidance test (PAT) and elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Biochemical analysis was done for estimation of antioxidant enzymes and acetylcholinesterase. Determination of brain biogenic amines was performed by HPLC-EC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Short term administration of D-gal significantly altered behavioral, biochemical and neurochemical responses in rats. D-Gal injected rats exhibited depressogenic and anxiogenic behaviors while memory was also significantly impaired in these rats. Brain lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase activity were significantly increased while catalase and glutathione peroxidase decreased. Increased activity of acetylcholinesterase was also exhibited by D-gal injected rats while brain biogenic amines were significantly decreased. Food intake and growth rate were however comparable in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Together the behavioral, biochemical and neurochemical impairments following the high dose of D-gal suggest that symptoms similar to natural aging may be developed in rats in as early as one week.
authors: Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan. Electronic address: saida-h1@hotmail.com.
authors: Saida
authors: S
authors: Haider
authors: Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan.
authors: Laraib
authors: L
authors: Liaquat
authors: Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan.
authors: Sidrah
authors: S
authors: Shahzad
authors: Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan.
authors: Sadia
authors: S
authors: Sadir
authors: Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan.
authors: Syeda
authors: S
authors: Madiha
authors: Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan; Department of Biochemistry, Jinnah University for Women, Karachi 74600, Pakistan.
authors: Zehra
authors: Z
authors: Batool
authors: Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan; Department of Biochemistry, Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry, Darul-Sehat Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors: Saiqa
authors: S
authors: Tabassum
authors: Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan.
authors: Sadia
authors: S
authors: Saleem
authors: Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan.
authors: Fizza
authors: F
authors: Naqvi
authors: Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan.
authors: Tahira
authors: T
authors: Perveen
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005690:Galactose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001679:Biogenic Amines; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D005690:Galactose
keywords: Behaviors; Neurotransmitters; Oxidative stress; d-Galactose