Feeding Vitamin C during Neonatal and Juvenile Growth Improves Learning and Memory of Rats

ABSTRACT

We investigated the effects of feeding vitamin C (Vit C) during neonatal and juvenile growth on learning and memory of rats. Rats after delivery were randomly divided into four groups and treated. Group 1, control group, received normal drinking water. Groups 2–4 received Vit C 10, 100, and 500 mg/kg, respectively, from the first day. After 8 weeks, 10 male offspring of each group were randomly selected and tested in the Morris water maze (MWM) and passive avoidance (PA) tests. Finally, the brains were removed for biochemical measurement. In MWM, 10–500 mg/kg Vit C reduced the latency and traveled distance and increased time spent in the target quadrant. In PA, 10 and 100 mg/kg of Vit C increased the latency; 10–500 mg/kg of Vit C decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain tissues and increased thiol and catalase (CAT) activity compared to the control group. We showed that feeding rats Vit C during neonatal and juvenile growth has positive effects on learning and memory.

KEYWORDS:

• juvenile
• learning
• memory
• oxidative stress
• vitamin C

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Funding

The authors appreciate the Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, for financial support.

About the authors

Mahmoud Hosseini, Professor, Division of Neurocognitive Sciences, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Research Interest: Seizure, learning and memory, cognition.

Farimah Beheshti, Ph.D. student of physiology, Division of Neurocognitive Sciences, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Research Interest: learning and memory and cognition, neuro- inflammation.

Farzaneh Sohrabi, Ph.D student, Division of Neurocognitive Sciences, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Research Interest: learning and memory.

Farzaneh Vafaee, Ph.D Student, Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Research Interest: Seizure, learning and memory, cognition.

Mohammad Naser Shafei, Associate Professor, Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Research Interest: Neuro- Physiology.

Hamid Reza Sadeghnia, Associate Professor,Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Research Interest: Neuro- pharmacology.