Nutr Res Pract.  2017 Feb;11(1):25-32. 10.4162/nrp.2017.11.1.25.

Protective effects of blueberry drink on cognitive impairment induced by chronic mild stress in adult rats

• Guo Q
• Kim YN
• Lee BH

• KMID: 2395290
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2017.11.1.25

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
Stress-induced cognitive impairment is related to the suppression of hippocampal neurogenesis that results from an increase of oxidative stress. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of administration of a blueberry drink, having a high antioxidant power, on the cognitive performance of adult rats exposed to chronic mild stress.
MATERIALS/METHODS
Twelve-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 48) were randomly divided into four groups: control (CO), stress (ST), control + 5% blueberry drink (CO + B), and stress + 5% blueberry drink (ST + B). After eight weeks, the cognitive performance was assessed using a multiple T-maze water test. Levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and ascorbic acid were measured in the brain, and catecholamine concentrations were measured in plasma.
RESULTS
The brain weights of the rats from the ST and ST + B groups were significantly lower than those of the rats from the CO and CO + B groups. The cognitive performance of the ST group was impaired when compared to that of the CO group. This impairment was significantly improved by the blueberry drink supplementation (P < 0.05). The brain SOD and CAT concentrations were not influenced by the stress or by the blueberry drink. However, the brain levels of GPx and ascorbic acid were significantly lower in the ST group than those in the CO group and were increased by the blueberry drink supplementation. The plasma catecholamine concentrations were affected by chronic mild stress and by the blueberry drink. The plasma norepinephrine and dopamine concentrations were decreased by the chronic stress and improved by the blueberry drink supplementation. The plasma epinephrine level was only influenced by the stress.
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that the blueberry drink may protect against the cognitive impairment induced by chronic mild stress.

Keyword

Blueberry; cognitive impairment; chronic stress; antioxidant; catecholamine

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Animals
Ascorbic Acid
Blueberry Plant*
Brain
Catalase
Cats
Cognition Disorders*
Dopamine
Epinephrine
Glutathione Peroxidase
Humans
Male
Neurogenesis
Norepinephrine
Oxidative Stress
Plasma
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Superoxide Dismutase
Water
Weights and Measures
Ascorbic Acid
Catalase
Dopamine
Epinephrine
Glutathione Peroxidase
Norepinephrine
Superoxide Dismutase
Water

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Effects of the blueberry drink on the mean time to reach the goal in the multiple T-maze water test on two days in adult rats under chronic mild stress conditions. (A) mean time to reach the goal on the first day of the multiple T-maze water test and (B) mean time to reach the goal on the second day of the multiple T-maze water test. The data are expressed as the mean ± SE of 12 animals per group. Significant differences between the stress (ST) and blueberry drink (B) or interaction between these factors (ST × B) were tested by two-way ANOVA and expressed as P-values, followed by Fisher's LSD test. Different letters represent statistical differences between the means (P < 0.05).

• 

  Fig. 2 Effects of the blueberry drink on the total number of errors in the multiple T-maze water test on two days in adult rats under chronic mild stress conditions. The data are expressed as the mean ± SE of 12 animals per group. Significant differences between the stress (ST) and blueberry drink (B) or interaction between these factors (ST × B) were tested by two-way ANOVA and expressed as P-values, followed by Fisher's LSD test. Different letters represent statistical differences between the means (P < 0.05).

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