Baldissera_2017_Mol.Cell.Biochem_436_159

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of tucuma oil (Astrocaryum vulgare) on memory, enzymatic activities of sodium-potassium pump (Na(+), K(+)-ATPase) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the brain of alloxan-induced diabetic mice. The animals were divided into four groups (n = 6 each): the group A (non-diabetic/water), the group B (non-diabetic/tucuma oil), the group C (diabetic/water), and the group D (diabetic/tucuma oil) treated 14 days with 5.0 mL kg(-1) via oral gavage. Untreated diabetic mice (the group C) showed memory deficit, increased levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) and protein carbonylation (PC), and decreased (p < 0.05) catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activities, while acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) compared to non-diabetic mice (the group A). Tucuma oil prevented these alterations in diabetic mice treated with tucuma oil (the group D) compared to diabetic mice (the group C). Our findings suggest that tucuma oil can modulate cholinergic neurotransmission resting membrane potential of neurons by modulating enzymatic antioxidant defenses. In conclusion, the present data showed that treatment with tucuma oil is beneficial to diabetic mice, demonstrating that this oil can modulate cholinergic neurotransmission and consequently improve or avoid memory deficits.