Effects of vitamin E and selenium yeast on cognitive performance of pups whose dams were subjected to prenatal noise stress

This study investigated the effects of vitamin E and selenium yeast on the cognitive performance of pups whose dams were subjected to prenatal noise stress (PNS). Twenty-five pregnant Wistar rats were divided into five groups, group 1 (negative control; received 1 mL/kg of distilled water without noise stress (NS); group 2: (positive control), received 1 mL/kg of distilled water group 3: received vitamin E; 100 mg/kg/day group 4: selenium yeast (0.4 mg/kg/day) and group 5: vitamin E (100 mg/kg/day bw) and selenium yeast (0.4 mg/kg/day). All administrations were done 30 min before the induction of white noise at 100 dB/4 h (0900–1300 h) /day for 15 days. On gestational day 21, five pups (n = 5) were randomly selected from each group. The pups were subjected to cognitive tests using the Y-maze apparatus on days 21 and 22. All experimental animals were sacrificed on day 23 for tissue processing. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and a value of p˂0.05 was considered statistically significant. The serum corticosterone (CORT) levels statistically increased in group 2 (p˂0.001) compared with groups 1, 3, 4 and 5. Brain homogenate showed an increased level of Malondialdehyde (MDA), decreased levels of glutathione reeducates (Gpx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in group 2 compared to 1. Glial cell activation was prominient in group 2 compared to group 1. Prenatal noise stress-induced cognitive impairments in pups whose dams were exposed to NS, but this impairment was mitigated with the administration of vitamin E, selenium yeast and combined administration of selenium yeast and vitamin E.