Phenolic acid intake, delivered via moderate Champagne wine consumption, improves spatial working memory via the modulation of hippocampal and cortical protein expression/activation

Giulia Corona, David Vauzour, Justine Hercelin, Claire M. Williams, Jeremy P. E. Spencer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aims: Whilst much data exists for the effects of flavonoid-rich foods on spatial memory in rodents, there are no such data for foods/beverages predominantly containing hydroxycinnamates and phenolic acids. To address this we investigated the effects of moderate Champagne wine intake, which is rich in these components, on spatial memory and related mechanisms relative to alcohol- and energy-matched controls. Results: In contrast to the iso-caloric and alcohol matched controls, supplementation with champagne wine (1.78 ml/kg BW, alcohol 12.5 % vol.) for 6 weeks led to an improvement in spatial working memory in aged rodents. Targeted protein arrays indicated that these behavioral effects were paralleled by the differential expression of a number of hippocampal and cortical proteins (relative to the iso-caloric control group), including those involved in signal transduction, neuroplasticity, apoptosis and cell cycle regulation. Western immunoblotting confirmed the differential modulation of BDNF, CREB, p38, dystrophin, CNPase, mTOR, Bcl-xL in response to champagne supplementation compared to the control drink, and the modulation of mTOR, Bcl-xL and CREB in response to alcohol supplementation. Innovation: Our data suggest that smaller phenolics such as gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, tyrosol, caftaric acid and caffeic acid, in addition to flavonoids, are capable of exerting improvements in spatial memory via the modulation in hippocampal signalling and protein expression. Conclusion: Changes in spatial working memory induced by Champagne supplementation are linked to the effects of absorbed phenolics on cytoskeletal proteins, neurotrophin expression and the effects of alcohol on the regulation of apoptotic events in hippocampus and cortex.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1676-1689
JournalAntioxidants & Redox Signaling
Volume19
Issue number14
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Nov 2013

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