Abstract:

Vitamin E supplementation is to improve to deteriorated cognitive functions. However, its effects on learning in healthy subjects have not been widely. Especially contradictions between age groups related to this condition are encountered. In the present study the influence of vitamin E intake on spatial learning and working memory performance of young rats in the Morris water hall has been investigated. For this purpose, a total of 45 male young Wistar Albino rats aged 2 months were divided into 3 equal groups. The control group 0.34 ml/kg/day saline; solving group 0.34 ml/kg/day olive oil; vitamin E group 40 mg/kg/day vitamin E (to be solved in the olive oil (0.26 ml/kg/day)) were treated for 30 days with a single daily intraperitoneal injections. After injections rats were tested for their ability to find the location of the platform (spatial learning) during two phases: acquisition and retention phase. 1 week after tests of spatial learning, working memory was tested with the platform located in a different position. The time spent to find the platform and the time spent in half area of the tank including the platform in a value representing the percentage in the total time were compared statistically. There was no statistically significant difference at the time spent to find the platform and the time spent in half area of the tank including the platform among the group, while the time spent to find the platform was found to have increased from the first to the fourth day in all groups. These results indicate that the short period supplementation with vitamin E has not improved the performance in learning in the healthy young rats. It was concluded that the beneficial effect of vitamin E intake on learning is related with the beginning time and the duration of vitamin E intake

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