Anti-aging properties of  whey against  brain damage of senile Wistar rat

Abstract Aging of mammalian species results in impaired biological function and cognitive decline. The purpose of this study was to determine the capacity of whey supplementation to improve aging –related changes of cognitive impairment markers; tau and amyloid-B and α-amylase in the brain of old rats. These have been conducted in conjunction with histopathology, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry of apoptosis. Twenty-four male Wistar albino rats ( Rattus novergicus ) ages 8 and 30-M (months) old were used. They were arranged into four main groups; adult (8-month old) and old rats (30 month old) with or without buffalo whey syrup supplementation. Oral whey supplementations was given daily twice doses of 2 mL 3 of whey syrup for two months. At the end of experiment, the rats were sacrificed by light anesthesia. The brain was examined for histological, immunohistochemical of synaptophysin and caspase 3 and biochemical and flow cytometric investigation. Old rats presented with depletion of superoxide dismutase (SOD), adenosine triphosphatase (ATP), dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT). The 30 M old rats also presented with increased lipid peroxidation MDA, inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor- α and 5-lpooxygenase), apoptic marker caspase 3, Annexin-v and aging marker tau-protein, amyloid-β and α-amylase. The combination of these findings in old rats predicts cognitive impairment. Among old rats, whey supplementations reduced inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. Whey supplementation also enhanced neurotransmitters and decreased tau-protein, amyloid-β, α- amylase cognitive impairment markers. Improved the histopathology and immunohistochemistry of cerebrum, cerebellum and hippocampus of old rats confirmed these effects of supplementation. The rates of apoptosis were decreased by assessment of Annexin v via flow cytometry. Whey supplementation to 8M old rats resulted in maintenance of the brain structure and function. The authors concluded that whey contains antioxidants and amino acids that decrease brain oxidative stress and restore normal cognitive function. These findings were evaluated by enhanced antioxidant defense and DA and 5-HT neurotransmitters which coincides with improved histology. The authors concluded that whey contains antioxidants and amino acids that decrease brain oxidative stress and restore normal cognitive function. These findings were evaluated by enhanced antioxidant defense and DA and 5-HT neurotransmitters which coincides with improved histology.