Ascorbic acid attenuates cognitive impairment and brain oxidative stress in ovariectomized mice.

BACKGROUND: Menopause is associated with increased oxidative stress and memory impairment. Based on the antioxidant property of ascorbic acid (AA), It's effect on cognitive function, the serum level of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes within the brain in ovariectomized (OVX) mice was investigated.

METHODS: AA (100, 300 and 500 mg/kg), was orally administrated per day in OVX mice for 30 days. Tactile learning and working memory were evaluated by the novel object recognition task and T-maze continuous alternation task, respectively. The levels of serum BDNF were measured and animals' brains were analyzed for the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity.

RESULTS: AA prevented from the deleterious effects of ovariectomy on learning memory (300 and 500 mg/kg) and working memory (100 and 500 mg/kg). The serum BDNF level was also increased in OVX animals treated with AA (100 and 500 mg/kg). Furthermore, AA (500 mg/kg) increased the SOD and GPx activity in the brain of OVX animals.

CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, the results of the present study suggest that AA might be an appropriate choice in loss or reduction of estradiol for the amelioration of cognitive impairment.