Efeito da luteína sobre o déficit de memória induzido por etanol em ratos

Abstract

The acute exposure, sub-acute or chronic is involved with various problems affecting the brain and central nervous system, resulting in learning deficits and short or longterm memory. Bioactive compounds such as carotenoids, are new therapeutic options able to reduce memory deficits and act in reducing the risk of diseases and health maintenance. In this sense, lutein, a carotenoid that contributes against oxidative stress, can act as a drug able to modify or reduce neuronal damage and memory deficits induced by ethanol. Thus, this study evaluated the effect of lutein on memory deficits in rats induced by ethanol in the object recognition task. The results showed that lutein administration (100 mg/kg) improved the memory of rats in the recognition task objects [F(3,34) = 7.13; p < 0.05], while doses of 15 or 50 mg / kg showed no effect; the sub-chronic administration of ethanol (3 g/kg) caused memory deficit in rats recognition task objects [F(3,37) = 3.06; p < 0.05]; and lutein (50 mg/kg) prevents the memory deficit induced by ethanol [F(3,39) = 7.64; p < 0.05]. Furthermore, lutein administration, ethanol and combination lutein and ethanol did not change the parameters of oxidative stress evaluated in the cortex and hippocampus. This suggests that the prevention of memory deficits induced by ethanol does not involve oxidative stress in the cortex and hippocampus. Thus, based on the results obtained, lutein may be considered an alternative in the treatment of memory deficits induced by ethanol, however, more studies are needed to evaluate the mechanism involved in this effect.