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Effects of Vitamin E on the Synthesis of Phospholipids and Brain Functions in Old Rats

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Neurophysiology Aims and scope

We examined the effects of supplementation of old rats with vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol, αTPh, acetate) on phospholopid (PL) metabolism in the brain and cognitive functions of these animals. Intragastric administration of αTPh to 24-month-old rats for 14 days resulted in a noticeable increase in the level of newly synthesized phosphatidylserine (PS) in the hippocampus of experimental animals, as compared with control rats. At the same time, there was a decrease in the [14C] phosphatidylcholine (PC) content in the hippocampus of experimental rats vs. controls. Changes in the PL levels observed in the hippocampus of experimental animals due to αTPh administration were associated with an increased number of active avoidances and a decreased latent period of these events within acquisition of the respective conditioned reflex in a shuttle box. The data obtained provide evidence that αTPh is a potent modulator of PL metabolism in the hippocampus and functions of the latter at old age.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Isra University, Amman, Jordan

    L. K. M. Hassouneh

  2. Institute of Biology, Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine

    L. K. M. Hassouneh

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Hassouneh, L.K.M. Effects of Vitamin E on the Synthesis of Phospholipids and Brain Functions in Old Rats. Neurophysiology 50, 166–172 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11062-018-9733-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11062-018-9733-3

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