Effect of Supplementation of vitamin E and vitamin C on brain acetylcholinesterase activity and neurotransmitter levels in rats treated with scopolamine, an inducer of dementia

• Published in: Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology 2001, Vol.47(5), pp.323-328
• Main Authors: Lee, L. (Chung-Ang Univ., Seoul (Korea R.)), Kang, S.A, Lee, H.O, Lee, B.H, Jung, I.K, Lee, J.E, Heo, Y.S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE; Acetylcholinesterase - metabolism; acetylcholinesterase activity; ALKALOIDS; Animals; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; Antioxidants - pharmacology; ASCORBIC ACID; Ascorbic Acid - administration & dosage; Ascorbic Acid - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; BRAIN; Brain - drug effects; Brain - enzymology; Brain - metabolism; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Dementia - chemically induced; Dementia - metabolism; Dietary Supplements; Dopamine - metabolism; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Male; Medical sciences; Muscarinic Antagonists - toxicity; Neurology; neurotransmitter; Neurotransmitter Agents - metabolism; NEUROTRANSMITTERS; Norepinephrine - metabolism; RATS; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; scopo-lamine; Scopolamine - toxicity; Serotonin - metabolism; vitamin C; VITAMIN E; Vitamin E - administration & dosage; Vitamin E - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0301-4800; 1881-7742
• DOI: 10.3177/jnsv.47.323

In the present study, the effects of vitamins E and C on the levels of neuro-transmitters and acetylcholinesterase activity in the brains of rats treated with scopolamine, an inducer of dementia, were examined. Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats at the age of 5 wk were divided into five groups after 1 wk of adaptation and fed five different diets for 6 wk: a no-scopolamine group, which was a scopolamine-untreated group fed only a basal diet; a scopolamine-treated group fed a basal diet; a vitamin E-supplemented scopolamine-treated group; a vitamin C-supplemented scopolamine-treated group; and a vitamins E and C-supplemented scopolamine-treated group. Scopolamine was twice administered by intraperitoneal injection (300 mg/kg, body weight), 3 d and 20 min prior to sacrifice. Brain acetylcholinesterase activity was markedly reduced by scopolamine injection. However, the supplementation of vitamins E and C in the diet significantly increased the reduced brain acetylcholinesterase activity up to the level of the scopolamine-untreated group. Brain serotonin concentration in the vitamin C-supplemented scopolamine-treated group was significantly higher than that in the scopolamine-treated group. However, there were no signifi cant differences in brain dopamine and norepinephrine concentrations among all groups. In conclusion, supplementation with vitamin E and/or vitamin C might be useful in maintaining brain acetylcholinesterase activity at the normal level and serotonin concentration for some extent under the condition to induce dementia by scopolamine administration.