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
Ethical Statement
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Central Nervous System, Physiopathology
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Nazan Elma
*
0000-0002-4214-7786
Türkiye
Salih Erdem
0000-0003-3277-0539
Türkiye
İnci Turan
0000-0003-2211-3914
Türkiye
Publication Date
September 27, 2026
Submission Date
February 19, 2026
Acceptance Date
June 18, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 6 Number: 3