Changes in Serotonin (5-HT) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDFN) expression in frontal cortex and hippocampus of aged rat treated with high tryptophan diet.

Changes in Serotonin (5-HT) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDFN) expression in frontal cortex and hippocampus of aged rat treated with high tryptophan diet.
Brain Res Bull. 2015 Oct 4;
Authors: Musumeci G, Castrogiovanni P, Castorina S, Imbesi R, Szychlinska MA, Scuderi S, Loreto C, Giunta S
Abstract
Age-related cognitive decline is accompanied by an alteration in neurotransmitter synthesis and a dysregulation of neuroplasticity-related molecules such as Serotonin (5-HT) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDFN). It has been previously demonstrated that hyperserotonemia induced by L-Tryptophan (TrP) enriched diet protect against memory deficits during physiological aging. Since 5-HT is closely associated to BDNF, we aimed to investigate the effect of high TrP diet on 5-HT levels and BDNF expression in Frontal Cortex (FC) and Hippocampus (Hp) of aged rats. We found that the raising of systemic 5-HT levels by chronic diet (1 month) containing high TrP significantly prevents age-related decline of BDNF protein expression in both brain areas as indicated by ELISA and Western Blot analyses. Interestingly, immunohistochemical analyses confirmed that high TrP diet significantly elevates the number of 5-HT immunoreactive fibers in both brain areas tested and this correlated with BDNF increase in the FC and hippocampal regions CA1, CA2, CA3 and a strikingly down-regulation of neurotrophin levels in the dentate gyrus (DG) of aged ra...

Source: Brain Research Bulletin - October 4, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Musumeci G, Castrogiovanni P, Castorina S, Imbesi R, Szychlinska MA, Scuderi S, Loreto C, Giunta S Tags: Brain Res Bull Source Type: research