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Long-term effects of ageing and ovariectomy on aversive and recognition memory and DNA damage in the hippocampus of female rats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 October 2013

Daniela Dimer Leffa ,
Adriani Paganini Damiani ,
Daiane Dal Col Damazio ,
Naiana Pereira Guerra ,
Morgana Moretti ,
Geovana Gomes da Silva de Brito ,
Carina Rodrigues Boeck ,
Elaine Cristina Gavioli  and
Vanessa Moraes de Andrade
Daniela Dimer Leffa*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology (LABIM), Postgraduate Programme of Health Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
Adriani Paganini Damiani
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology (LABIM), Postgraduate Programme of Health Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
Daiane Dal Col Damazio
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology (LABIM), Postgraduate Programme of Health Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
Naiana Pereira Guerra
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Neuroscience, Postgraduate Programme of Health Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
Morgana Moretti
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Neuroscience, Postgraduate Programme of Health Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
Geovana Gomes da Silva de Brito
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Neuroscience, Postgraduate Programme of Health Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
Carina Rodrigues Boeck
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Neuroscience, Postgraduate Programme of Health Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
Elaine Cristina Gavioli
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Behavioural Pharmacology, Postgraduate Programme of Behavioural Neuroscience, Centre for Biosciences, University Campus, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
Vanessa Moraes de Andrade
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology (LABIM), Postgraduate Programme of Health Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
*
Daniela Dimer Leffa, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Postgraduate Programme of Health Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, 888.06-000, Criciúma, SC, Brazil. Tel: +55 (48) 3431 2757; Fax: +55 (48) 3431 2671; E-mail: daniela_leffa@yahoo.com.br
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Abstract

Objective

This study investigated the influence of ageing – in particular the decrease of gonadal hormone levels during the ageing process – on the memory and the levels of DNA damage in the hippocampus of female rats.

Methods

Three groups of female Wistar rats were investigated: Group I consisted of non-ovariectomised, adult animals (6 months old); Group II consisted of non-ovariectomised, aged animals (18 months old); and Group III consisted of ovariectomised, aged animals (18 months old). The memory of the animals in these groups was examined via novel object recognition and inhibitory avoidance tests. The hippocampus tissue samples of all animals were obtained via biopsy and used to quantify the DNA damage using a Comet Assay.

Results

According to our findings, the process of ageing results in a change during the behavioural tests. To prevent genotoxic damage to the hippocampus caused by the ageing process, lowered hormone levels seem to be part of a protective biochemical mechanism in the body of rats. Animals that were previously submitted to an ovariectomy adapted better to these lower levels of hormones.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that ovariectomy can provide beneficial long-term effects on the memory. However, this could be specific to the kind of memory examined, as the aversive memory deficits caused by ageing were not affected by ovariectomy.

Keywords

agedComet Assayinhibitory avoidance testobject recognition testovariectomy
Type
Original Articles
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 26 , Issue 3 , June 2014 , pp. 161 - 169
Copyright
Copyright © Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 2013 

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