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Abstract Title:

Melatonin restores hippocampal neural precursor proliferation and prevents cognitive deficits induced by jet lag simulation in adult mice.

Abstract Source:

J Pineal Res. 2017 Feb 8. Epub 2017 Feb 8. PMID: 28178375

Abstract Author(s):

Deetje Iggena, York Winter, Barbara Steiner

Article Affiliation:

Deetje Iggena

Abstract:

Frequent flyers and shift workers undergo circadian dysrhythmia with adverse impact on body and mind. The circadian rhythm disorder"jet lag"disturbs hippocampal neurogenesis and spatial cognition, which represent morphological and functional adult brain plasticity. This raises the question if pro-neurogenic stimuli might prevent those consequences. However, suitable measures to mitigate jet lag induced adverse effects on brain plasticity have been neglected so far. Here, we used adult C57Bl6 mice to investigate the pro-neurogenic stimuli melatonin (8mg/kg i.p.) as well as environmental enrichment as potential measures. We applied photoperiod alterations to simulate"jet lag"by shortening the dark period every third day by six hours for three weeks. We found that"jet lag"simulation reduced hippocampal neural precursor cell proliferation by 24% and impaired spatial memory performance in the water maze indicated by a prolonged swim path to the target (~23%). While melatonin prevented both the cellular (~1%) as well as the cognitive deficits (~5%), environmental enrichment only preserved precursor cell proliferation (~12%). Our results indicate that lifestyle interventions are insufficient to completely compensate jet lag induced consequences. Instead melatonin is required to prevent cognitive impairment caused by the same environmental factors to which frequent flyers and shift workers are typically exposed to. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Study Type : Animal Study

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