Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to examine the effects of agmatine supplementation and exercise on cognitive functions of aged rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the study, 36 healthy, old male Sprague-Dawley rats with a weight of 300-350 gr were used. The rats were randomly divided into as control (n=6), exercise (n=10), agmatine (n=10), agmatine+exercise (n=10) groups. The rats in the control group and the exercise group were administered 1 mg / kg (i.p) saline for 8 weeks. 40 mg/kg (i.p) Agmatine supplementation was given to the rats at the agmatine groups. Swimming exercise was applied for 8 weeks to the exercise and agmatine+exercise groups. At the end of the 8th week, Morris maze test was concluded. All the animals were decapitated and the blood and tissue samples (hippocampus) were taken for measuring brain derived neurotrophic factor (in plasma), the agmatine and nitrite+nitrate levels in hippocampus. Protein concentration was determined by the Lowry method. RESULTS: Agmatine level was significantly higher in the agmatine and agmatine+exercise groups compared to the control group and exercise group (p<0.05). In terms of the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nitrite+nitrate levels there was no significant difference between the groups (p<0.05). On the first day and fourth day, there was no difference between the groups in terms of total logged distance and durations of finding the platform at the phase of Morris water maze test (p<0.05). On the second day and third day, the total logged distance and durations of finding the platform was lower in the agmatine+exercise group compared to the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that agmatine supplementation might have positive effects on spatial learning in aged rats.

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