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We have demonstrated that antioxidants and diets supplemented with foods high in antioxidant capacity (ORAC)can reverse age-related declines in cerebellar beta-adrenergic receptor function. In this study we tested 1) whether this effect was related to the antioxidant capacity of the food supplement and 2) if the antioxidant rich diet reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the cerebellum. Rats of either 4 or 20 months of age received water (4 and 20 month), apple (5 mg dry weight, 20 month) or spirulina (5 mg; 20 month) in 0.5 ml water by oral gavage daily for 14 days. In the aged control rats there is a significant decrease in beta-adrenergic receptor function assessed using electrophysiological techniques. The spirulina treatment reversed this effect. The apple diet (a food with intermediate ORAC values) showed an intermediate effect on cerebellar beta-adrenergic receptor physiology, suggesting that the reversal of beta-adrenergic receptor function may be related to the ORAC dose in the diet. We also examined the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFa and TNFb and showed that the mRNA for these cytokines is increased in the aged cerebellum. Both the spirulina and apple diets significantly down-regulated this age-related increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured as a marker of oxidative damage and the diets decreased MDA levels in the aged rats. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that the effect antioxidant rich diets to improve b-adrenergic receptor function in aged rats is dependent on the ORAC dose and that these diets also reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Key words:
Antioxidants, cytokines, cerebellum
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