Kiwifruit Alleviates Learning and Memory Deficits Induced by Pb through Antioxidation and Inhibition of Microglia Activation In Vitro and In Vivo

Abstract

Lead (Pb) exposure, in particular during early postnatal life, increases susceptibility to cognitive dysfunction and neurodegenerative outcomes. The detrimental effect of Pb exposure is basically due to an increasing ROS production which overcomes the antioxidant systems and finally leads to cognitive dysfunction. Kiwifruit is rich in the antioxidants like vitamin C and polyphenols. This study aims to investigate the effects and mechanism of kiwifruit to alleviate learning and memory deficits induced by Pb exposure. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat pups acquired Pb indirectly through their mothers during lactation period and after postnatal day 21 (PND21) directly acquired Pb by themselves. Five kinds of kiwifruits were collected in this study and the amounts of vitamin C and polyphenols in them were measured and the antioxidation effects were determined. Among them, Qinmei kiwifruit (Qm) showed the strongest antioxidation effects in vitro. In vivo, Qm significantly repaired Pb-induced learning and memory deficits and dendritic spine loss. In addition, Pb compromised the enzymatic activity and transcriptional levels of SOD and GSH-Px and decreased the microglial activation, which, to some extent, could be reversed by Qm kiwifruit administration. The results suggest that kiwifruit could alleviate Pb-induced cognitive deficits possibly through antioxidative stress and microglia inactivation. Consequently, kiwifruit could be potentially regarded as the functional food favorable in the prevention and treatment of Pb intoxication.

Neurotoxic Agent-Induced Injury in Neurodegenerative Disease Model: Focus on Involvement of Glutamate Receptors

“…Lead (Pb) is a well-known neurotoxic agent that brings about cognitive deficits in animal models. As a neurotoxic agent in different study models, Pb caused oxidative stress, synaptic and cholinergic dysfunction, neuroinflammation, autophagy, apoptosis, cognitive deficits, and neuronal cell death ( Phyu and Tangpong, 2014 ; Ye et al, 2015 ; Chibowska et al, 2016 ; Meng et al, 2016 ; Tang et al, 2017 ; Xue et al, 2017 ). Pb-induced neurotoxicity may be based on the modulation of glutamate receptors, especially iGluRs.…”

Age‐related miRNAs dysregulation and abnormal BACE1 expression following Pb exposure in adolescent mice

“…18,19 The previous research of our team recurrently demonstrated that chronic Pb exposure promoted alterations of APP processing 8 that may lately trigger learning and memory disabilities. 20 Up to now, accumulating evidence has implicated mechanisms of Pb-induced neuronal loss and cognitive impairment, of which epigenetic modifications deserve serious consideration as candidate mediators of "short-term exposure, long-term response" and control of multiple genetic targets. 21,22 With further understanding of the pathogenesis of AD, increasing studies have shown that age is a major risk factor for AD.…”

Kiwifruit of Actinidia eriantha cv. Bidan has in vitro antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects on macrophages and splenocytes isolated from male BALB/c mice

“…Hayward) exerted anti-inflammatory effects in LPSstimulated primary macrophages [32]. Oral administration of kiwifruit to lead-exposed Sprague-Dawley rat pups significantly (p \ 0.05) reduced the mRNA expression of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß and TNF-a in the hippocampus [33]. Cv.…”