Chronic administration of vitamin E elevates brain derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor in chronic stress induced wistar rats.

Abstract

Long-term elevation of glucocorticoids hinders immune function, increasing the susceptibility to disease and neuro-degeneration. This study evaluated the hypothesized neuroprotective effect of antioxidant and piracetam, in chronic restraint stress induced rats.  Healthy wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 6) each. Group I was kept control.  Stress group received chronic restraint stress for 6 hours per day for 21 days. Group III was administered vitamin E (40 mg/kg) and group IV was administered piracetam (336 mg/kg). Evaluation parameters were measurement of serum brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and serum nerve growth factor (NGF). The oxidative stress markers, SOD, CAT, Glutathione peroxidase, Glutathione reductase, malondialdehyde were measured. Serum nitric oxide levels were also measured. Histological analysis of CA1 region of hippocampus was done to evaluate the structural changes of pyramidal neurons. Spontaneous alteration behavior was analyzed using Y maze.  The results revealed that vitamin E caused statistically significant (p < 0.001) increase in serum BDNF and NGF and caused statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in antioxidant enzymes (Catalase, Super oxide dismutase, Glutathione peroxidase, Glutathione Reductase), with significant (P< 0.001) decrease in malondialdehyde concentrations. Vitamin E caused increase in neuronal cell size and volume in CA1 pyramidal layer of hippocampus and showed statistically significant (p < 0.001) increase in spontaneous alteration behavior in Y maze. The findings of study are suggestive of neuroprotection, offered by administration of Vitamin E compared to piracetam against chronic restraint stress induced rats.  To conclude naturally available dietary vitamin might serve as an adjuvant therapy in order to avoid progression of brain damage during stress.