Long-Term Supplementation with Beta Serum Concentrate (BSC), a Complex of Milk Lipids, during Post-Natal Brain Development Improves Memory in Rats

Nutrients

Jian Guan²  Alastair MacGibbon³  Bertram Fong³  Rong Zhang²  Karen Liu²  Angela Rowan¹ 

[1]Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd., Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand

[2] E-Mail:

[3]Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland 1142 , New Zealand

[4] E-Mails:

[5]Fonterra Research and Development Centre, Private Bag 11029, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand

[6] E-Mails:

关键词: beta serum concentrate;    milk fat globule membrane;    gangliosides;    phospholipids;    brain development;    memory;    Morris water maze;    neuroplasticity;   

DOI  :  10.3390/nu7064526

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

We have previously reported that the supplementation of ganglioside-enriched complex-milk-lipids improves cognitive function and that a phospholipid-enriched complex-milk-lipid prevents age-related cognitive decline in rats. This current study evaluated the effects of post-natal supplementation of ganglioside- and phospholipid-enriched complex-milk-lipids beta serum concentrate (BSC) on cognitive function in young rats. The diet of male rats was supplemented with either gels formulated BSC (n = 16) or blank gels (n = 16) from post-natal day 10 to day 70. Memory and anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated using the Morris water maze, dark–light boxes, and elevated plus maze tests. Neuroplasticity and white matter were measured using immunohistochemical staining. The overall performance in seven-day acquisition trials was similar between the groups. Compared with the control group, BSC supplementation reduced the latency to the platform during day one of the acquisition tests. Supplementation improved memory by showing reduced latency and improved path efficiency to the platform quadrant, and smaller initial heading error from the platform zone. Supplemented rats showed an increase in striatal dopamine terminals and hippocampal glutamate receptors. Thus BSC supplementation during post-natal brain development improved learning and memory, independent from anxiety. The moderately enhanced neuroplasticity in dopamine and glutamate may be biological changes underlying the improved cognitive function.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.