Alpha lipoic acid increases sodium potassium ATPase and reduces lipofuscin accumulation in discrete brain regions of aged rats
P. Arivazhagan, D. Ayusawa, C. Panneerselvam
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Dr. ALM Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai - 600 113, India
A convincing link between oxidative stress and neurodegenerative
condtions has been made with the knowledge that oxidative changes may
actually trigger deterioration in cellular functions. We analysed the
effect of DL-alpha-lipoic acid on the level of lipofuscin and the
activity of sodium pottasium ATPase in discrete brain regions of young
and aged rats. In aged rats, the level of lipofuscin was high, while
the activity of sodium potassium ATPase was low. Intraperitoneal
administration of alpha lipoic acid to aged rats led to a
duration-dependent reduction in the content of lipofuscin and an
elevation in the activity of sodium potassium ATPase in several brain
regions including the cortex, cerebellum, striatum, hippocampus and
hypothalamus. There reslts suggest that lipoic acid, a metabolic
antioxidant, can be a useful therapeutic tool in improving neuronal
functions of aged individuals.
Key words:
alpha lipoic acid, ageing, lipofuscin
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