Abstract
Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol abundant in grapes and red wine, has been reported to exert numerous beneficial health effects. Among others, acute neuroprotective effects of resveratrol have been described in several models of neurodegeneration, both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study we examined the neuroprotective effects of long-term dietary supplementation with resveratrol in mice on behavioral, neurochemical and cerebrovascular level. We report a preserved cognitive function in resveratrol-treated aging mice, as shown by an enhanced acquisition of a spatial Y-maze task. This was paralleled by a higher microvascular density and a lower number of microvascular abnormalities in comparison to aging non-treated control animals. We found no effects of resveratrol supplementation on cholinergic cell number or fiber density. The present findings support the hypothesis that resveratrol exerts beneficial effects on the brain by maintaining cerebrovascular health. Via this mechanism resveratrol can contribute to the preservation of cognitive function during aging.
Highlights
Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol, enriched in grapes and red wine, with potential beneficial effects on human health
Besides effects on general health and life span, a number of in vivo studies suggest that injection of resveratrol during the induction of cerebral ischemia protects the brain against acute neurodegeneration (Wang et al, 2002; Lu et al, 2006)
The improvement in cognitive performance as observed in the Y-maze was paralleled by an increased microvascular density in the hippocampus and decreased number of vacuolar abnormalities in both hippocampal and cortical microvascular endothelial cells
Summary
Resveratrol (trans-3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene) is a natural polyphenol, enriched in grapes and red wine, with potential beneficial effects on human health. Resveratrol has been reported to extend life span in yeast (Howitz et al, 2003) and promote survival in mice on a high-caloric diet (Baur et al, 2006). Besides effects on general health and life span, a number of in vivo studies suggest that injection of resveratrol during the induction of cerebral ischemia protects the brain against acute neurodegeneration (Wang et al, 2002; Lu et al, 2006). Considering its health and survival promoting effects and its neuroprotective potential after acute treatment in models of neurodegeneration, it is an intriguing question whether chronic dietary resveratrol could protect against slow age-related decline in brain function and cognitive performance in normal mice
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