Project Number: 1950-51000-063-14
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Jun 15, 2006
End Date: Jun 14, 2009

Objective:
Aim 1: Determine the effects of TESB supplementation on Behavioral aging using paradigms sensitive to: motor (probes sensitive to balance, strength, coordination) and cognitive (short- and long-term memories) behaviors. Aim 2: Determine the effects of TESB on signaling and correlate these changes with the behavioral parameters determined in Specific Aim 1.

Approach:
The effects of TESB dietary supplementation (2% TESB extract in the diet for 8 weeks) will be examined. After 8 weeks of supplementation into 19 month old rats, performance will be examined in the rats using age-sensitive motor (inclined) and cognitive behaviors (Morris water maze performance). We will then determine the effects of TESB supplementation on neuronal signaling and correlate these with alterations in behavioral parameters determined in SA1. 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 and neurogenesis (e.g., calcium-dependent protein kinase C, PKC; extracellular signal regulated kinases, ERK).