NEUROTHERAPEUTIC AND ANTIOXIDANT RESPONSE OF D-RIBOSE-L-CYSTEINE NUTRITIONAL DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS ON ALZHEIMER-TYPE HIPPOCAMPAL NEURODEGENERATION INDUCED BY CUPRIZONE IN ADULT MALE WISTAR RAT MODEL.

Abstract Introduction Cuprizone is a neurotoxicant causing neurodegeneration through enzymes inhibition and oxidative stress. D-Ribose-L-Cysteine (DRLC) is a powerful antioxidant with neuroprotective properties. This study explored the antioxidant response of DRLC against cuprizone-induced behavioral alterations, biochemical imbalance and hippocampal neuronal damage in adult wistar rats. Materials and Methods Thirty two (32) adult male wistar rats (150- 200g) were divided into four groups (n=8). Group A received normal saline only as placebo; Group B received 0.5% cuprizone diet only; Group C received a combination of 0.5% cuprizone diet and 100mg/kg bw of DRLC and Group D received 100mg/kg bw of DRLC only. The administration was done through oral gavage once daily for 45 days. After the last treatment, neurobehavioral tests (Morris Water Maze and Y maze) was conducted; animals sacrificed and brain harvested for histological analysis and biochemical estimations of levels of antioxidants, oxidative stress markers, neurotransmitters and enzyme activitties. Results The results showed significant memory decline, hippocampal alterations, decrease levels of antioxidant markers, enzyme and neurotransmitters activities with concomitant increase in norepinephrine and oxidative stress markers in cuprizone induced rats relative to normal but was attenuated with DRLC administration. Conclusion Cuprizone causes cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration through oxidative stress; however, administration of DRLC ameliorated neuropathological alteration induced by cuprizone.