ABSTRACT

Light to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with improved cardiovascular and brain

health. As such, some guidelines for health and wellness advocate drinking one or two alcoholic

beverages each day. Conversely, it is widelyaccepted that large amounts of alcohol are

detrimental to our health. Alcohol affects many organs of the body including the nervous system.

The present study aimed at evaluating the hormetics effect of chronic alcohol consumption on

the cognitive, behavioral and brain antioxidant system on adult Wistar Rats.Thirty-two(32) adult

Wistar rats of both sexes were divided into 4 experimental groups with 8 animals of both sexes

(house separately) in each group: Group1 served as control and was administered distilled water,

while Group2 was administered with 0.12g/kg of ethanol, Group3 was administered with

0.16g/kg of ethanol and group4 was administered with 0.24g/kg of ethanol respectively for

eleven(11) weeks orally. Cognition was assessed using Morris Water Maze and behavioral

activities was assessed using elevatedplus Maze and resident intruder Test before, during and

after administration.After administration, the rats were anesthetized lightly with ketamine

injection(75mg/kg IP), the brain was removed and part was homogenized in phosphate buffer

solution(PBS)     for    the    estimation     of    Glutathione(GSH),   superoxide     dismutase(SOD),

catalase(CAT), glutathione and malondaldehyde(MDA) and part was fixed in Bouin’s fluid for

histological studies. One-way analysis of variance, Repeated measure analysis of variance and

Friedman test was used to compare the mean value and p<0.05.The result indicated that there

was no significant alternation of learning and memory in control group of male and female rats

while in the administered, consistent significant improved learning and memory was observed in

dose    dependent    (Group    2:    37.61±7.34sec,15.26±5.57sec,    12.74±3.44sec;    Group    3:

28.72±5.52sec, 12.20±4.31sec, 7.87±2.51sec and Group 4: 26.64±9.64sec, 23.57±1.84sec,

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