Source Paper
Stefano Tarantini, Marta Noa Valcarcel-Ares, Peter Toth, Andriy Yabluchanskiy, Zsuzsanna Tucsek et al.
Redox Biology • 2019
Adjustment of cerebral blood flow (CBF) to neuronal activity via neurovascular coupling (NVC) has an essential role in maintenance of healthy cognitive function. In aging increased oxidative stress and cerebromicrovascular endothelial dysfunction impair NVC, contributing to cognitive decline. There is increasing evidence showing that a decrease in NAD<sup>+</sup> availability with age plays a critical role in a range of age-related cellular impairments but its role in impaired NVC responses remains unexplored. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that restoring NAD<sup>+</sup> concentration may exert beneficial effects on NVC responses in aging. To test this hypothesis 24-month-old C57BL/6 mice were treated with nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), a key NAD<sup>+</sup> intermediate, for 2 weeks. NVC was assessed by measuring CBF responses (laser Doppler flowmetry) evoked by contralateral whisker stimulation. We found that NVC responses were significantly impaired in aged mice. NMN supplementation rescued NVC responses by increasing endothelial NO-mediated vasodilation, which was associated with significantly improved spatial working memory and gait coordination. These findings are paralleled by the sirtuin-dependent protective effects of NMN on mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial bioenergetics in cultured cerebromicrovascular endothelial cells derived from aged animals. Thus, a decrease in NAD<sup>+</sup> availability contributes to age-related cerebromicrovascular dysfunction, exacerbating cognitive decline. The cerebromicrovascular protective effects of NMN highlight the preventive and therapeutic potential of NAD<sup>+</sup> intermediates as effective interventions in patients at risk for vascular cognitive impairment (VCI).
Objective: Assessment of learning and memory through discrimination between familiar and novel objects, sensitive to hippocampal and cortical microvascular function
Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.
Noldus Information Technology Inc.
Noldus Information Technology Inc.
8 items available from ConductScience
Estimated: $11,614.00
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Product links help support this free resource.
Animals explore empty open-field arena to acclimate to testing environment
Note: First phase of novel object recognition test
“During the habituation phase the animals explored the empty open-field arena for 5 min”
Mice explore two identical objects in the open-field arena
Note: Objects are made of washable odorless plastic, different shapes and colors but identical in size
“in the acquisition phase the mice explore two identical objects for 2 min”
Time interval between acquisition and trial phases
Note: Allows assessment of memory retention
“After a 4 h delay, a trial phase occurred”
Animals explore one familiar object and one novel object in the arena
Note: Exploration defined as directing nose at distance ≤2 cm to object and/or touching with nose. Sitting or climbing not considered exploration
“During this period animals explored the familiar object and a novel object for 2 min. Exploration of the objects was defined as directing the nose at a distance ≤2 cm to the object and/or touching it with the nose”
Clean arena and objects between trials to prevent olfactory cues
Note: Use 70% ethanol for cleaning
“The arena and the objects were cleaned with 70% ethanol between the trials to prevent the existence of olfactory cues”
Record and analyze exploration time using Ethovision software
Note: Calculate Recognition Index (RI) as measure of retention
“For data collection and analysis Ethovision software (Noldus Information Technology Inc., Leesburg, VA, USA) was used”
Aged mice from National Institute on Aging colony at Charles River Laboratories
+5 more items
Evidence-Based
28 quotes from paper