Cognitive deficiency induced by cerebral hypoperfusion/ischemia improves by exercise and grape seed extract

Abstract

Background: Permanent bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion (2CCAO) in the rat has been established as a valid experimental model to investigate the effects of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion/ ischemia on cognitive function and neurodegenerative processes. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of chronic administration of grape seed extract (GSE) and forced exercise and together on memory retrieval following hypoperfusion/ischemia. Methods: Carotid arteries in male rats were ligatured and then cut bilaterally with a 1-week interval between artery occlusions. Passive avoidance task was done after 28 days running on treadmill and oral administration of GSE as alone and both of them in sham operated and ischemic groups. Results: Chronic forced exercise although increased memory slightly but did not significant. In addition to treatment with GSE improved memory significantly (P < 0.01). When GSE was associated with forced exercise could improve memory higher than exercise alone in ischemic rats significantly (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Our results showed that free radicals elevated significantly in brain tissues after permanent 2CCAO and chronic forced exercise caused raise of free radicals in brain as a stressor and caused neuronal injury too. The possibility that GSE with strong anti-oxidative potential could scavenge oxidants from brain tissues after ischemia and exercise, therefore improve memory. Our study showed that exercise couldn't affect memory of ischemia/ hypoperfusion. So, administration of a natural antioxidant such as GSE associate with exercise is beneficial for ischemic patients.