title: α-Tocopherol and Hippocampal Neural Plasticity in Physiological and Pathological Conditions.
abstract: Neuroplasticity is an "umbrella term" referring to the complex, multifaceted physiological processes that mediate the ongoing structural and functional modifications occurring, at various time- and size-scales, in the ever-changing immature and adult brain, and that represent the basis for fundamental neurocognitive behavioral functions; in addition, maladaptive neuroplasticity plays a role in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric dysfunctions. Experiential cues and several endogenous and exogenous factors can regulate neuroplasticity; among these, vitamin E, and in particular α-tocopherol (α-T), the isoform with highest bioactivity, exerts potent effects on many plasticity-related events in both the physiological and pathological brain. In this review, the role of vitamin E/α-T in regulating diverse aspects of neuroplasticity is analyzed and discussed, focusing on the hippocampus, a brain structure that remains highly plastic throughout the lifespan and is involved in cognitive functions. Vitamin E-mediated influences on hippocampal synaptic plasticity and related cognitive behavior, on post-natal development and adult hippocampal neurogenesis, as well as on cellular and molecular disruptions in kainate-induced temporal seizures are described. Besides underscoring the relevance of its antioxidant properties, non-antioxidant functions of vitamin E/α-T, mainly involving regulation of cell signaling molecules and their target proteins, have been highlighted to help interpret the possible mechanisms underlying the effects on neuroplasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, 61029 Urbino, Italy. patrizia.ambrogini@uniurb.it.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ambrogini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, 61029 Urbino, Italy. michele.betti@uniurb.it.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Betti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, 61029 Urbino, Italy. claudia.galati@uniurb.it.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galati
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, 61029 Urbino, Italy. michael.dipalma@uniurb.it.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Palma
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, 61029 Urbino, Italy. davide.lattanzi@uniurb.it.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lattanzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, 61029 Urbino, Italy. david.savelli@uniurb.it.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Savelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy. francesco.galli@unipg.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, 61029 Urbino, Italy. riccardo.cuppini@uniurb.it.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cuppini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, 61029 Urbino, Italy. andrea.minelli@uniurb.it.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D024502:alpha-Tocopherol
keywords: adult neurogenesis; brain; development; neuroplasticity; seizures; vitamin E