Quercetin Modulates the Effects of Chromium Exposure on Learning, Memory and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in F1 Generation Mice

• DOI: 10.1007/s12011-015-0544-8
• Publication Date: 2015-10-31T02:55:04Z
• Authors: Sumita Halder; Rajarshi Kar; Ashish K Mehta; Swapan K Bhattach...; Pramod K Mediratta; Basu D. Banerjee
• Keywords: Chromium; Male; 0303 health sciences; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Catalase; Antioxidants; Enzyme Activation; Mice; Oxidative Stress; 03 medical and health sciences; Memory; Malondialdehyde; Animals; Female; Quercetin; Maze Learning; Glutathione Transferase

In the present study, we investigated whether chromium (Cr) administered to the dams (F0) during lactation period could affect memory and oxidative stress in F1 generation mice in their adulthood and whether quercetin could modulate these effects. Morris water maze (MWM) was used to test for spatial memory. Passive avoidance task and elevated plus maze were used to test for acquisition and retention memory. Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring glutathione-S-transferase (GST), catalase activity and malonaldehyde (MDA) levels in the brain tissue. The results of MWM showed that the animals in the Cr-treated group compared to control have better spatial memory that was further enhanced when Cr was administered along with quercetin (50 mg/kg). The elevated plus maze test also showed the Cr-treated group to improve acquisition as well as retention memory compared to control. Co-treatment with quercetin (all doses) also exhibited enhanced acquisition and retention memory compared to control. The passive avoidance task demonstrated no significant improvement in memory in the Cr-treated mice but co-treatment with quercetin (100 mg/kg) showed improved acquisition memory compared to control which was significantly better than the animals treated with chromium alone. GST activity was significantly increased in the Cr-treated animals, and this was further increased in groups treated with Cr and quercetin (all doses). Chromium when administered alone and in combination with quercetin (all doses) significantly reduced MDA levels. However, Cr treatment did not show significant change in catalase activity. Nevertheless, co-treatment with quercetin (25 and 50 mg/kg) resulted in significant decrease in catalase activity. Thus, our study demonstrates that Cr exposure during lactation could be beneficial for pups with respect to augmentation of cognitive function and reduction of oxidative stress. Quercetin could probably enhance this effect to some extent.