Research Article

Effect of ethyl pyruvate on sleep deprivation-induced cognitive dysfunction in young female rats

Volume: 6 Number: 3 September 27, 2026

Effect of ethyl pyruvate on sleep deprivation-induced cognitive dysfunction in young female rats

Abstract

Aims: REM sleep deprivation (SD) affects various physiological processes such as learning and memory. The effect of ethyl pyruvate on cognitive functions has been studied in a limited number of studies and has not been investigated on sleep deprivation before. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the effects of ethyl pyruvate treatment on learning and memory in female rats undergoing REMSD for 72 hours.

Method: 25 female Wistar albino rats aged 6months were divided into four different groups (7 sleep deprived rats, the others 6 rats). Control, wide platform (WP), SD, SD groups treated with ethyl pyruvate (SD+EP). WP group rats were placed in a tank with a large platform (14cm diameter) as environmental control of sleep deprivation. The rats in the WP group, which could sleep without falling into the water, remained in the tank for 72 hours. REMSD was created using the multi-platform (6.5cm diameter) method for 72 hours. Ethyl pyruvate treatment (50 mg/kg) was administered as a single daily dose (i.p) for 5 days. The Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to evaluate the effects of ethyl pyruvate on learning and memory. At the end of the experiment, the hippocampus and brain tissues of the rats were taken. Biochemical analyses included oxidative stress markers, acetylcholinesterase activity, nitrate, and glycogen levels in hippocampal and brain tissues.

Results: The results showed that the effects of SD on memory assessed by the MWM test were prolonged in the daily time to find the platform and shortened in the time spent in the platform area on the last day(p<0.05).It also proved that SD increased MDA and nitrate levels in brain tissue and AchE activity in hippocampus tissue(p<0.05).When the ethyl pyruvate treatment group was compared with the SD group, nitrate levels were found to be decreased(p<0.05).Finally, it was found that there was no difference between the groups in terms of GSH and glycogen levels.

Conclusion: Our results show that ethyl pyruvate administered after 72 hours of REMSD has no effect on learning and memory in young female rats.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This work received no financial support from any funding agency.

Ethical Statement

All experimental procedures described in this study were previously approved by the Ethical Committee of Experimental Animals of Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University (Protocol No: 2022-13-12/05) and are in accordance with the ‘Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals’ (US National Institute of Health, revised 1996).

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Central Nervous System, Physiopathology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 27, 2026

Submission Date

February 19, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 18, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 6 Number: 3

APA
Elma, N., Erdem, S., Turan, İ., & Sayan Özaçmak, H. (2026). Effect of ethyl pyruvate on sleep deprivation-induced cognitive dysfunction in young female rats. Kastamonu Medical Journal, 6(3), 231-242. https://doi.org/10.66235/kumj.1892984
AMA
1.Elma N, Erdem S, Turan İ, Sayan Özaçmak H. Effect of ethyl pyruvate on sleep deprivation-induced cognitive dysfunction in young female rats. Kastamonu Medical Journal. 2026;6(3):231-242. doi:10.66235/kumj.1892984
Chicago
Elma, Nazan, Salih Erdem, İnci Turan, and Hale Sayan Özaçmak. 2026. “Effect of Ethyl Pyruvate on Sleep Deprivation-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction in Young Female Rats”. Kastamonu Medical Journal 6 (3): 231-42. https://doi.org/10.66235/kumj.1892984.
EndNote
Elma N, Erdem S, Turan İ, Sayan Özaçmak H (September 1, 2026) Effect of ethyl pyruvate on sleep deprivation-induced cognitive dysfunction in young female rats. Kastamonu Medical Journal 6 3 231–242.
IEEE
[1]N. Elma, S. Erdem, İ. Turan, and H. Sayan Özaçmak, “Effect of ethyl pyruvate on sleep deprivation-induced cognitive dysfunction in young female rats”, Kastamonu Medical Journal, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 231–242, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.66235/kumj.1892984.
ISNAD
Elma, Nazan - Erdem, Salih - Turan, İnci - Sayan Özaçmak, Hale. “Effect of Ethyl Pyruvate on Sleep Deprivation-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction in Young Female Rats”. Kastamonu Medical Journal 6/3 (September 1, 2026): 231-242. https://doi.org/10.66235/kumj.1892984.
JAMA
1.Elma N, Erdem S, Turan İ, Sayan Özaçmak H. Effect of ethyl pyruvate on sleep deprivation-induced cognitive dysfunction in young female rats. Kastamonu Medical Journal. 2026;6:231–242.
MLA
Elma, Nazan, et al. “Effect of Ethyl Pyruvate on Sleep Deprivation-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction in Young Female Rats”. Kastamonu Medical Journal, vol. 6, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 231-42, doi:10.66235/kumj.1892984.
Vancouver
1.Nazan Elma, Salih Erdem, İnci Turan, Hale Sayan Özaçmak. Effect of ethyl pyruvate on sleep deprivation-induced cognitive dysfunction in young female rats. Kastamonu Medical Journal. 2026 Sep. 1;6(3):231-42. doi:10.66235/kumj.1892984

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