ANÁLISE DO EFEITO DA NOZ PERSA (Juglans regia) SOBRE A MEMÓRIA EM MODELO COMPORTAMENTAL MURINO

Abstract

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the main cause of dementia today, and no treatment has been established as capable of reducing or preventing the progression of this condition and the damage present in it. In the search for new therapeutic options, the Persian walnut (Juglans regia) has shown several beneficial effects on neuronal function. The present investigation project sought to induce the deficit in working memory through the administration of Dizocilpine (MK-801) and evaluated whether the Persian walnut suspension prevents this deficit in a murine model, using the Y-maze test, in addition, evaluating the presence of an effect on the locomotor activity of the animals. The present study used 18 male Swiss mice aged approximately 6 weeks. The different groups received supplementation with Persian walnut suspension (2g/kg), SouvenaidÒ (0.1ml/g), or 0.9% saline solution (0.1ml/g) for 5 days. On the 6th day of the study, the animals received MK-801 (0.15mg/kg) or Saline Solution (control groups) and were submitted to the Y Maze and Rota Rod tests. Data were tabulated and analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's post hoc test. In the analysis of the results obtained in the Y-maze test, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding the Number of Total Entries (p=0.075), Number of Alternations (p=0.337) or Percent Spontaneous Alternations (p=0.173). In the Rota Rod test, at 30, 60 and 120 minutes, after Y-maze test there was no significant difference between the groups regarding the Number of Falls (p=0.862; p=0.845; p=0.879) and Latency (p=0.711; p=0.573; p=0.623). The present study showed no benefit on working memory with the use of Persian Nut suspension for 5 days. In addition, the study showed no locomotor effect secondary to supplementation. It is worth emphasizing the importance of this pre-clinical stage to guide future experiments in order to improve the limitations evidenced in this study and allow a better evaluation of the supplementation effects of Persian walnut and elucidate the adequate administration time and dose of supplementation.