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Alpha-tocopherol in the brain tissue preservation of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

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Abstract

Oxidative stress has an important role in neuronal damage during cerebral ischemia and can lead to cognitive and behavioral impairment. Alpha-tocopherol, a powerful antioxidant, may be able to preserve neuronal tissue and circumvent neurological deficits. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the influence of alpha-tocopherol in the preservation of brain tissue and the maintenance of memory formation in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). To achieve this aim, twenty-four 15-week-old male SHRSP rats were separated into the following four groups (n = 6 each) that received different treatments over a 4-week period: the alpha-tocopherol group, the control group, the L-NAME group, and the L-NAME + alpha-tocopherol group. We evaluated the physiological parameters (body weight, diuresis, and food and water intake), an oxidative stress marker (malondialdehyde levels), and neurological responses (the Morris Water Maze and Novel Objects Recognition tests). Afterwards, the brains were removed for histopathological analysis and quantification of the number of cells in the hippocampus. Statistically, the alpha-tocopherol group demonstrated better results when compared to all groups. The data indicated a reduction in oxidative stress and the preservation of neurological responses in groups treated with alpha-tocopherol. In contrast, the L-NAME group exhibited increased malondialdehyde levels, impairment of neurological responses, and several hippocampus tissue injuries. The others groups exhibited nerve tissue changes that were restricted to the glial nodes. No significant alterations were observed in the physiologic parameters. Based on these findings, we suggest that alpha-tocopherol can prevent stroke, preserve the structure of the hippocampus, and maintain both memory and cognition functions.

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Acknowledgment

All the authors contributed equally to this article. This work received support from the Brazilian national agencies for research and development CNPq and CAPES.

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There were no conflicts of interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Nutritional Investigation and Degenerative-Chronic Diseases, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro State (Doctoral Program in Neurology - UNIRIO), 290 Xavier Sigaud Street, Urca, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22290-240, Brazil

    Leonardo Borges Murad, Marcela Rodrigues Moreira Guimarães & Lucia Marques Vianna

  2. Pathology Department, University Hospital Gaffreé and Guinle, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro State (Doctoral Program in Neurology - UNIRIO), 775 Mariz e Barros Street, Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 20270-004, Brazil

    Aline Paganelli & Carlos Alberto Basílio de Oliveira

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  1. Leonardo Borges Murad
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  2. Marcela Rodrigues Moreira Guimarães
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  3. Aline Paganelli
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  4. Carlos Alberto Basílio de Oliveira
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  5. Lucia Marques Vianna
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Correspondence to Leonardo Borges Murad.

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Murad, L.B., Guimarães, M.R.M., Paganelli, A. et al. Alpha-tocopherol in the brain tissue preservation of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Physiol Biochem 70, 49–60 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-013-0279-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-013-0279-y

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