Avaliação de prejuízo cognitivo e de alterações cromatínicas e oxidativas em encéfalos de camundongos idosos e adultos maduros após suplementação alimentar com fortasyn connect

Abstract

Aging affects all unicellular and multicellular eukaryotic organisms, and is caused by changes occurring and accumulated at molecular level. Such molecular changes lead to morphophysiological alterations, which increase the risk for several chronic diseases and a general decline in cognitive capacity. At cellular level, along with these functional alterations, it is possible to perceive structural alterations, such as chromatin changes. Some chromatin changes are responsible for altered expression of genes related to memory formation, which may lead to cognitive deficits associated with neurological diseases in aging, for instance Alzheimer's disease. Considering the influence of nutrition on cognitive functions and on cellular antioxidant capacity, we proposed the investigation of the Fortasyn Connect formula as food supplementation for mice without Alzheimer's disease. Mature and elderly C57/Bl6 mice received either a supplemented or a conventional diet; then, they underwent cognitive behavioral tests. After euthanasia of the mice, their brains were integrally dissected. Neurons and glyocytes were isolated for image analysis of chromatin organization parameters. Part of the initial brain homogenate was biochemically tested for oxidative stress markers. From what was observed in the elevated plus maze and in the Morris water maze, memory/learning performance alterations with age were improved by dietary supplementation. However, alterations found in the morphometric parameters of chromatin organization show that supplementation in both neurons and gliocytes has led to typical aging morphological profiles in mature adult animals and further aggravation of these characteristics in the elderly ones. Regarding oxidative stress markers, no association was found concerning the other results.