Gum Arabic supplementation prevents loss of learning and memory through stimulation of mitochondrial function in the hippocampus of type 2 diabetic rats
Ebrahim Rajab, Michael B. Keogh, Ashang L. Laiva, Fatima Al Hannan, Maryam Fateel, Fatema Abdulwahab, Fatema Al Madhoob, Bassam AlHamer, Samar Ghazzal, Abdulla Ali Dawaishan, Sadiq Mahdi, Abdulrahman Qareeballa, Sayed Almosawi, Faisal Falamarzi, Khalifa Elmusharaf, Amer Kamal
Abstract
The aim was to determine whether gum Arabic (GA) supplementation prevents cognitive decline in type 2 diabetes, through stimulation of mitochondrial function in the hippocampus. Type 2 diabetic rats and controls were assigned to following groups for 16 weeks: Control + Water; Control + GA 10% w/v; Diabetes + Water; Diabetes + GA 10% w/v. Latency in water maze was shorter for Diabetes + GA compared to Diabetes + Water (P < 0.05). Diabetes + GA group had a higher expression density per cell of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) compared to Diabetes + Water (P < 0.05). A similar trend was observed for ATP synthase β-subunit expression (ATPB). Number of PGC-1α positive cells was higher in diabetes compared to control groups (p < 0.05). The GA prevented learning and memory loss in type 2 diabetes. This was associated with greater expression of PGC-1a and a trend for greater ATBP protein expression in the hippocampus.