Effects of anthocyanins on memory and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase expression in CA3-hippocampal area of rats under oxidative stress

Our previous studies demonstrated substantial antidepressant activity of anthocyanins on male rats in a model of chronic oxidative stress. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of prophylactic administration of anthocyanins on the NO expression in rat's brain hippocampal region (CA3) in experimental model of depression with oxidative stress. In order to determine the NO synthase (NOS) activity, NADPH-diaphorase stain assay was used. We used 8-arm radial maze test to assess the spatial memory of the experimental animals. Wistar male rats were divided into two groups: I group - exposed to oxidative stress for 14 days; II group - exposed to oxidative stress for 14 days and treated with anthocyanins 200 mg/kg p.o. during that period. We observed that the prophylactic administration of anthocyanins in the course of oxidative stress decreased the number of NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons in rat's hippocampus and prevented brain cells dysfunction. The treatment with anthocyanins reduced spatial memory deficits caused by oxidative stress in the experimental animals.