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Title: Protective effects of blueberry and strawberry diets on neuronal stress following exposure to 56Fe particles

Author
item POULOSE, SHIBU - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item BIELINSKI, DONNA - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item CARRIHILL-KNOLL, KIRSTY - University Of Maryland
item RABIN, BERNARD - University Of Maryland
item Shukitt-Hale, Barbara

Submitted to: Brain Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2014
Publication Date: 12/17/2014
Citation: Poulose, S.M., Bielinski, D., Carrihill-Knoll, K.L., Rabin, B.M., Shukitt Hale, B. 2014. Protective effects of blueberry and strawberry diets on neuronal stress following exposure to 56Fe particles. Brain Research. 1593:9-18.

Interpretive Summary: Radioactive particles that are abundant in outer space have been shown to disrupt brain function. Previous studies have shown that irradiation causes the brain to undergo inflammation and other cellular changes similar to those seen in aging. Feeding animals with diets rich in blueberries and strawberries has been shown to reduce the damaging effects of irradiation. In this study, we examined the effects of brain irradiation at 36 hours and 30 days following the exposure to radioactive particles. We also studied the effects of diets containing 2% blueberry or strawberry, fed for 8 weeks prior to, as well as 30 days following, irradiation. Radioactive exposure caused significant chemical changes in various regions of the brain that were reflective of inflammation, disruption of normal brain-cell function, and the accumulation of disease-related proteins. Berry-rich diets significantly reduced disruption of cellular function at the 30-day post-irradiation time-point. Irradiated animals fed the blueberry diet showed a decrease in the accumulation of disease-related proteins. These results indicate the potential protective effects of berry-rich diets on brain function following exposure to radioactive particles.

Technical Abstract: Particles of high energy and charge (HZE particles), which are abundant outside the magnetic field of the earth, have been shown to disrupt the functioning of neuronal communication in critical regions of the brain. Previous studies have shown that irradiation produces enhanced indices of oxidative stress and inflammation as well as altered neuronal function that are similar to those seen in aging. Feeding animals antioxidant-rich berry diets, specifically blueberries and strawberries, have countered the deleterious effects of irradiation by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, and thereby improving neuronal signaling. In the current study, we examined the effects of exposure to 56Fe particles in critical regions of brain involved in cognitive function, both 36 hours and 30 days post irradiation. We also studied the effects of antioxidant-rich berry diets, specifically a 2% blueberry or strawberry diet, fed for 8 weeks prior to radiation as well as 30 days post irradiation. 56Fe exposure caused significant differential, neurochemical changes in critical regions of the brain, such as hippocampus, striatum, frontal cortex, and cerebellum, through increased inflammation, and increased oxidative stress protein markers. 56Fe exposure altered the autophagy markers, and antioxidant-rich berry diets significantly reduced the accumulation of p62 in hippocampus, a scaffold protein that co-localizes with ubiquitinated protein at the 30 days post irradiation time-point. Exposure to 56Fe particles increased the accumulation of disease-related proteins such as PHF-tau in the hippocampus of animals fed the control diet, but not in the irradiated animals fed the blueberry diet. These results indicate the potential protective effects of antioxidant-rich berry diets on neuronal functioning following exposure to HZE particles