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

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. Three groups of female Wistar rats were investigated: Group I consisted of non-ovariectomis...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta neuropsychiatrica 2014-06, Vol.26 (3), p.161-169
Main Authors: Leffa, Daniela Dimer, Damiani, Adriani Paganini, Damazio, Daiane Dal Col, Guerra, Naiana Pereira, Moretti, Morgana, de Brito, Geovana Gomes da Silva, Boeck, Carina Rodrigues, Gavioli, Elaine Cristina, de Andrade, Vanessa Moraes
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging
Aging - genetics
Aging - physiology
Aging - psychology
Animals
Cellular biology
DNA Damage
Estradiol - blood
Female
Free radicals
Hippocampus - physiology
Hormones
Laboratories
Memory
Oophorectomy
Original Articles
Ovariectomy
Ovaries
Physiology
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Recognition (Psychology) - physiology
Steroids
Surgery
Vagina
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Summary: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. 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. 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. 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.
ISSN:0924-2708
1601-5215
DOI:10.1017/neu.2013.48