title: Astaxanthin supplementation enhances adult hippocampal neurogenesis and spatial memory in mice.
abstract: METHODS
  There is a growing necessity for efficacious natural supplements with antioxidant effects on the brain, in particular, hippocampal function. One such compound, which also has a neuroprotective effect, is the carotenoid astaxanthin (ASX). Despite ASX's potential benefit to the brain, very little is known about its effect on hippocampal plasticity and cognition. Thus, we investigated the effect of ASX on adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) and spatial memory using a mouse model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dose-response was examined in mice fed ASX-supplemented diets (0, 0.02, 0.1, and 0.5%) to define the effect of ASX on AHN. In conjunction with AHN results, hippocampus-dependent cognitive function was assessed. We delineated molecular mechanisms associated with ASX-enhanced AHN using DNA microarray analysis. Results revealed that ASX enhanced cell proliferation and survival at 0.1% and 0.5% doses. Newborn mature neurons were higher only with 0.5% ASX, which also enhanced spatial memory. Transcriptomic profiling revealed potential AHN-associated molecules (Prl, Itga4, and Il4) that were ASX induced. Their downstream factors, identified through Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, were positively correlated with ASX-induced increases in spatial memory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ASX supplementation enhanced AHN and spatial memory, and a DNA microarray approach provided, for the first time, novel molecular insights into ASX action.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry and Neuroendocrinology, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Jang Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yook
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry and Neuroendocrinology, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.affiliation: Tsukuba International Academy for Sport Studies, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Randeep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rakwal
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry and Neuroendocrinology, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shibato
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry and Neuroendocrinology, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.|Department of Sports Medicine, College of Health Science, CHA University, Pocheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Chul
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry and Neuroendocrinology, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.affiliation: Human Movement Science, College of Natural Science, Seoul Women's University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyukki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Laboratoryof Exercise Biochemistry, Korea National Sport University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry and Neuroendocrinology, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks / Q000187:drug effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D065852:Spatial Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D024341:Xanthophylls; C005948:astaxanthine
keywords: Adult hippocampal neurogenesis; Astaxanthin; DNA microarray; Spatial memory; Transcriptomic profile