<<snip>>
the polyphenols in these fruits might be acting in different brain
regions
<<snip>>

Neurobiology of Aging

doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.05.031
Published by Elsevier Inc.
Beneficial effects of fruit extracts on neuronal function and behavior
in a rodent model of accelerated aging

Barbara Shukitt-Halea, , , Amanda N. Careya, Daniel Jenkinsb, Bernard
M. Rabinb and James A. Josepha

aUSDA-ARS, Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts
University, 711 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, United States
bDepartment of Psychology, University of Maryland Baltimore County,
Baltimore, MD 21250, United States

Received 2 December 2005;  revised 9 May 2006;  accepted 30 May 2006.
Available online 11 July 2006.

Abstract
Exposing young rats to particles of high-energy and charge (HZE
particles) enhances indices of oxidative stress and inflammation and
disrupts the functioning of the dopaminergic system and behaviors
mediated by this system in a manner similar to that seen in aged
animals. Previous research has shown that diets supplemented with 2%
blueberry or strawberry extracts have the ability to retard and even
reverse age-related deficits in behavior and signal transduction in
rats, perhaps due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
properties. This study evaluated the efficacy of these diets on
irradiation-induced deficits in these parameters by maintaining rats on
these diets or a control diet for 8 weeks prior to being exposed to
whole-body irradiation with 1.5 Gy of 1 GeV/n high-energy 56Fe
particles. Irradiation impaired performance in the Morris water maze
and measures of dopamine release 1 month following radiation; these
deficits were protected by the antioxidant diets. The strawberry diet
offered better protection against spatial deficits in the maze because
strawberry-fed animals were better able to retain place information (a
hippocampally mediated behavior) compared to controls. The blueberry
diet, on the other hand, seemed to improve reversal learning, a
behavior more dependent on intact striatal function. These data suggest
that 56Fe particle irradiation causes deficits in behavior and
signaling in rats which were ameliorated by an antioxidant diet and
that the polyphenols in these fruits might be acting in different brain
regions.

Keywords: Morris water maze; Cognitive performance; Irradiation;
Oxidative stress; Inflammation; Antioxidants; Dietary supplementation;
Polyphenols

Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 617 556 3118; fax: +1 617 556 3222.

Who loves ya.
Tom

Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://jesuswasavegetarian.7h.com

Man Is A Herbivore!
http://tinyurl.com/a3cc3

DEAD PEOPLE WALKING
http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk