Exploring the effect of vitamin C on sleep deprivation induced memory impairment

Brain Res Bull. 2015 Apr:113:41-7. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2015.02.002. Epub 2015 Feb 25.

Abstract

In the current study, the possible beneficial effect of vitamin C (VitC) against sleep deprivation induced memory impairment was examined. Chronic sleep deprivation was induced via placing rats in a modified multiple platform apparatus for 8h/day for a period of 6 weeks. Concomitantly, VitC was administered to animals at doses of 150 and 500 mg/kg/day. After 6 weeks of treatment, the radial arm water maze (RAWM) was used to test for spatial learning and memory performance. Moreover, the hippocampus was dissected; and levels/activities of antioxidant defense biomarkers glutathione reduced (GSH), glutathione oxidized (GSSG), GSH/GSSG ratio, catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), were evaluated. Results revealed that chronic sleep deprivation impaired short- and long-term memories (P<0.05). This impairment was prevented by chronic VitC treatments. In addition, VitC normalized sleep deprivation induced decreases in hippocamppal GSH/GSSG ratio (P<0.05), and activities of catalase, and SOD, and increase in GSSG levels (P<0.05). Collectively, spatial memory impairment was induced by chronic sleep deprivation, and VitC treatment prevented such impairment. This was possibly achieved via normalizing antioxidant defense mechanisms of the hippocampus.

Keywords: Hippocampus; Maze; Memory; Sleep deprivation; Vitamin C.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ascorbic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / enzymology
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Learning / drug effects
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders / etiology*
  • Memory Disorders / metabolism
  • Memory Disorders / prevention & control*
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Random Allocation
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Sleep Deprivation / complications*
  • Sleep Deprivation / drug therapy*
  • Sleep Deprivation / metabolism
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / metabolism

Substances

  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
  • Catalase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Ascorbic Acid