Effects of Ziziphus jujuba fruits extract on Memory Impairment Induced by Hypothyroidism During Breastfeeding and Adolescence in the Rats

Abstract

Objective: The effects of Ziziphus jujuba (ZJ) fruits extract on hypothyroidism-related learning and memory loss in rats were studied during breastfeeding and adolescence. Methods: Twenty-four pregnant rats were kept in separate cages. After delivery, the mothers and their offspring were randomly divided into five groups including (1) control, (2) propylthiouracil (PTU), (3) PTU-ZJ100mg, (4)PTU-ZJ150mg and, (5) PTU-ZJ200mg (PTU plus ZJ extract 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg respectively). All dams except the control group received 0.005% PTU in their drinking water during lactation. After the lactation period, pups continued to receive the same experimental treatment for the first 60 days of their life. Then, 10 male offspring of each group were randomly selected and assessed for the learning and memory abilities in the Morris water maze (MWM) and passive avoidance (PA) test and biochemical assessments. Results: ZJ strengthened BDNF and avoided oxidative disruption to the brain tissue and deterioration of learning and memory in hypothyroid rats induced-PTU. ZJ also decreased hippocampal AChE activity relative to the PTU community in both hippocampal and cortical tissues. Conclusion: The provided evidence in the present study indicates that enhancing amyloid-beta, BDNF, and protective influences against oxidative damage to brain tissue can be related to the useful impacts of ZJ on hypothyroid rats' cognitive function. ZJ also attenuates the activity of AChE in hypothyroid rat brain tissue. Also, ZJ administration increased the amount of serum T4