Physiology and Pharmacology
Physiol Pharmacol
Medical Sciences
http://ppj.phypha.ir
32
journal32
24765236
24765244
10.61186/phypha
(previous ISSN: 17350581)
en
jalali
1399
6
1
gregorian
2020
9
1
24
3
online
1
fulltext
en
Effects of different dark chocolate diets on memory functions and brain corticosterone levels in rats under chronic stress
Learning and Memory
Neurophysiology/Pharmacology
Experimental research article
Experimental research article
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Introduction: </strong>Stress influences cognitive behavior adversely, whereas dark chocolate exhibits positive effects on memory processes. This study investigated the effects of different dark chocolate diets on various aspects of brain functions in rats under chronic stress <strong>Methods:</strong> Thirty-five rats were randomly allocated into five groups: control, stress, stress with different (compulsory, optional and restricted) dark chocolate diets. Latency, dark stay (DS) time and the number of entrance to the dark compartment were respectively evaluated as memory, memory consolidation and locomotor activity by passive avoidance test.<strong> Results:</strong> There were significant differences between initial latency and latency after 1 day in all groups. In the stress-compulsory and restricted dark chocolate diet groups, latency after 1 day increased significantly. Moreover, the DS time was not significantly higher in the stressed group than the control group. The DS time and number of entrance to dark compartment decreased significantly in the stress-compulsory dark chocolate diet group compared to the stressed group. Furthermore, the number of entrance to dark compartment was significantly higher for the stress- optional dark chocolate diet compared to those with the compulsory diet. Additionally, serum and hippocampal corticosterone levels, except in the frontal cortex, were significantly lower only in the stress-compulsory dark chocolate diet group compared to the stressed group. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Different dark chocolate diets had various effects on brain functions under chronic stress. Respectively, the compulsory and optional dark chocolate diets had the best and least effects on brain function improvement. Only the compulsory dark chocolate diet could improve brain functions such as memory, memory consolidation and locomotor activity.</div>
Dark chocolate, Memory, Stress, Hippocampus, Frontal cortex.
185
196
http://ppj.phypha.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-895-6&slc_lang=en&sid=1
Elham
Kalantarzadeh
3200319475328460029445
3200319475328460029445
No
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Maryam
Radahmadi
m_radahmadi@med.mui.ac.ir
3200319475328460029446
3200319475328460029446
Yes
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Parham
Reisi
3200319475328460029447
3200319475328460029447
No
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran