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Cherry Juice Improves Memory and Anxiety by Modulating Cell Number in the Hippocampus of Male Rat Pups Infected with
Juan J Virgen-Gen1, Mayvi Alvarado-Olivarez1, Rosa I Guzmán-Gerónimo2
1Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa 91190, Veracruz, Mexico.
Insights
Cherry juice (CJ) consumption during pregnancy and lactation may protect offspring from neuroinflammation caused by lipopolysaccharides (LPS). This intervention improved memory and restored hippocampal cell counts in rat pups exposed to LPS.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Prenatal exposure to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) can negatively impact offspring neurodevelopment.
- Cherries contain anthocyanins, potent antioxidants with demonstrated neuroprotective capabilities.
- Understanding interventions to mitigate LPS-induced neurodevelopmental deficits is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neuroprotective potential of cherry juice (CJ) against LPS-induced neuroinflammation.
- To assess the effects of CJ on memory, anxiety, and hippocampal cell integrity in offspring exposed to LPS during critical developmental periods.
- To evaluate CJ's impact on systemic inflammation markers.
Main Methods:
- Rat dams were exposed to LPS during gestation (LPS-G) or gestation-lactation (LPS-GL) periods.
- Offspring received either saline or cherry juice (CJ) supplementation.
- Behavioral tests assessed memory and anxiety; histological analysis quantified hippocampal cell counts.
- Leukocyte levels were measured to indicate systemic inflammation.
Main Results:
- LPS exposure led to impaired memory, increased anxiety, elevated leukocytes, and reduced hippocampal cell counts in offspring.
- CJ administration significantly improved memory performance in offspring exposed to LPS.
- Cherry juice normalized leukocyte levels and restored hippocampal cell counts in dentate gyrus, CA1, CA2, and CA3 regions.
Conclusions:
- Cherry juice demonstrates significant neuroprotective effects against LPS-induced neuroinflammation.
- CJ supplementation can mitigate adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes associated with prenatal LPS exposure.
- These findings highlight the potential of natural compounds like those in cherries for supporting neurodevelopmental health.
Abstract:
Exposure to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) during pregnancy have been linked to alterations in the offspring's central nervous system. Cherries are a source of anthocyanins, which possess neuroprotective properties. The study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of cherry juice (CJ) on memory and hippocampal cell counts in offspring exposed to LPS during gestation and the gestation-lactation periods. At postnatal day 90, rat pups were divided into five groups: Control (saline solution), LPS-G (LPS during gestation), LPS-G+CJ (LPS during gestation+CJ), LPS-GL (LPS during gestation-lactation), and LPS-GL+CJ (LPS during gestation-lactation+CJ). A battery of behavioral tests was conducted to assess short- and long-term memory and anxiety-like behavior. Histological analysis was performed on hippocampal regions. Leukocyte levels were measured as markers of systemic inflammation. Results showed that pups in the LPS-G and LPS-GL groups exhibited impaired memory, increased anxiety-like behavior, elevated leukocyte levels, and reduced cell counts in the dentate gyrus and CA1 regions, as well as in CA2 (LPS-G) and CA3 (LPS-GL). Cherry juice administration in the LPS-G+CJ and LPS-GL+CJ groups improved memory performance, normalized leukocyte levels, and restored hippocampal cell counts. These findings suggest that cherry juice exerts neuroprotective effects against LPS-induced neuroinflammation during gestation and the gestation-lactation periods.
