Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) may attack several types of living tissues and induce neuronal apoptosis in the brain. In our previous study, we examined about the relationship between ROS-induced neuronal cell death and cognitive dysfunction during aging. In order to verify, an early signs of neuronal change by ROS prior to induction of cell death, we examined the neurite condition after treatment of neurons with low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. Treatment of neurons with low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide induced neurite degeneration, and treatment with tocopherol or tocotrienols significantly inhibited these changes in neuronal cells. The neuroprotective effect of tocotrienols was stronger than that of tocopherol. Furthermore, treatment with tocotrienols prevented degeneration of a specific protein present in neurite by hydrogen peroxide. These results suggest that neurite degeneration may be one of the early events of hydrogen peroxide-induced neuronal degeneration, and that tocotrienols may protect neurite function from oxidative damage through their neuroprotective function.
