Project Number: 1950-51000-063-11
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Jul 15, 2005
End Date: Oct 13, 2008

Objective:
Phase I. Assess the behavioral effects and blood levels of walnut fatty acids in the diets of the rats to determine the most effective supplementations of the walnuts in the diet to carry out experiments in Phase II of the proposal. Phase II. Aim-1 Determine the effects of walnuts (WL), blueberry (BB) or BB + WL supplementation on behavioral aging using paradigms sensitive to cognitive (short- and long-term memories) and motor behaviors. Aim 2: Determine the effects of these supplementations on calcium dependent neuronal signaling and neurogenesis (2b) and correlate these with alterations in behavioral parameters determined in A 1.

Approach:
The effects of BB dietary supplementation (2% BB extract in the diet), WL supplementation 2% WL extract in the diet) or WL + BB supplementation (1% each in the diet) will be examined on behavioral performance beginning 8 weeks after supplementation will have begun, in the rats using age-sensitive cognitive behaviors that are selective for reference and working memories. The effects of these supplementations on neurogenesis and differentiation will be examined using immunocytochemistry, bromodeoxyuridine) incorporation in hippocampus obtained from these animals. In addition we will utilize several techniques (e.g., Western blot analyses and immunocytochemistry) to assess the changes in several markers of phosphorylation that are important in cell communication (e.g., calcium-dependent protein kinase C, PKC; extracellular signal regulated kinases, ERK).