TY - JOUR
T1 - N-acetyl cysteine supplementation prevents impairment of spatial working memory functions in rats following exposure to hypobaric hypoxia
AU - Jayalakshmi, K.
AU - Singh, S. B.
AU - Kalpana, B.
AU - Sairam, M.
AU - Muthuraju, S.
AU - Ilavazhagan, G.
PY - 2007/11/23
Y1 - 2007/11/23
N2 - Exposure to high altitude (HA), especially extreme altitude, is associated with impairment of cognitive functions including memory and increased oxidative stress. However, the underlying mechanisms involved are not well understood. It is hypothesized that HA induced oxidative stress may be one of the factors underlying hypoxia induced memory impairment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of hypobaric hypoxia (HH) on spatial working and reference memory functions, oxidative stress markers in rats and effect of supplementation of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). The rats were divided into four groups. Group I served as normoxic (n = 6), Group II served as hypoxic (n = 6), Group III as hypoxia group treated with NAC (n = 6) and Group IV served as normoxic group treated with NAC (n = 6). Group II & III were exposed to HH for 3 days equivalent to 6100 m and received oral NAC supplementation (750 mg/kg) daily. Rats from all the groups were trained in Morris Water Maze (MWM) task for 8 consecutive days. Spatial working and reference memory were tested immediately after the termination of HH and then the rats were sacrificed for estimation of oxidative stress markers in hippocampus. Rats displayed significant deficits in spatial working memory, and increased oxidative stress along with decrease in antioxidant status on hypoxic exposure. Supplementation with NAC in hypoxia-exposed group improved spatial memory performance, and decreased oxidative stress. These findings indicate that hypoxic exposure is associated with increased oxidative stress, which may have caused memory deficit in rats exposed to simulated HA.
AB - Exposure to high altitude (HA), especially extreme altitude, is associated with impairment of cognitive functions including memory and increased oxidative stress. However, the underlying mechanisms involved are not well understood. It is hypothesized that HA induced oxidative stress may be one of the factors underlying hypoxia induced memory impairment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of hypobaric hypoxia (HH) on spatial working and reference memory functions, oxidative stress markers in rats and effect of supplementation of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). The rats were divided into four groups. Group I served as normoxic (n = 6), Group II served as hypoxic (n = 6), Group III as hypoxia group treated with NAC (n = 6) and Group IV served as normoxic group treated with NAC (n = 6). Group II & III were exposed to HH for 3 days equivalent to 6100 m and received oral NAC supplementation (750 mg/kg) daily. Rats from all the groups were trained in Morris Water Maze (MWM) task for 8 consecutive days. Spatial working and reference memory were tested immediately after the termination of HH and then the rats were sacrificed for estimation of oxidative stress markers in hippocampus. Rats displayed significant deficits in spatial working memory, and increased oxidative stress along with decrease in antioxidant status on hypoxic exposure. Supplementation with NAC in hypoxia-exposed group improved spatial memory performance, and decreased oxidative stress. These findings indicate that hypoxic exposure is associated with increased oxidative stress, which may have caused memory deficit in rats exposed to simulated HA.
KW - Hippocampus
KW - Hypobaric hypoxia
KW - Oxidative stress markers
KW - Reference memory
KW - Spatial working memory
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U2 - 10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.05.051
DO - 10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.05.051
M3 - Article
C2 - 17602713
AN - SCOPUS:35548976159
SN - 0031-9384
VL - 92
SP - 643
EP - 650
JO - Physiology and Behavior
JF - Physiology and Behavior
IS - 4
ER -