Sains Malaysiana 52(6)(2023): 1821-1833

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2023-5206-17

Effect of Crocodile Oil (Crocodylus siamensis) on Brain Mitochondrial Protein Expression and Cognition in Male Rats

(Kesan Minyak Buaya (Crocodylus siamensis) terhadap Pengekspresan Protein Mitokondria Otak dan Kognisi pada Tikus Jantan)

KRITTIKA SRISUKSAI¹, KONGPHOP PARUNYAKUL¹, PITCHAYA SANTATIVONGCHAI², SUMATE AMPAWONG³, PHITSANU TULAYAKUL⁴ & WIRASAK FUNGFUANG^1,5,*

¹Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

²Bio-Veterinary Science (International Program), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

³Department of Tropical Pathology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

⁴Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

⁵Kasetsart University Research and Development Institute, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

Diserahkan: 7 September 2022/Diterima: 2 Jun 2023

Abstract

Crocodile oil (CO) is rich in polyunsaturated (PUFAs) fatty acids. Diets rich in PUFAs can maintain mitochondrial function, which is important in signal transduction and survival of neuronal cells. We investigated the effects of CO on brain mitochondrial protein expression and cognitive function in male rats. Twenty-one rats were randomly divided into three groups: (1) control, (2) treated with CO (3 mL/kg), and (3) treated with palm oil (PO; 3 mL/kg). Animals received oral gavage once-daily for seven weeks. The parameters that were measured were food intake, energy intake, body weight, serum lipid profiles, cognitive behavior, brain mitochondrial architecture, brain mitochondrial expression, and hippocampal structure. In CO and PO groups, food intake decreased significantly compared with that in the control group (p<0.05), but energy intake, body weight, and lipid profiles were not affected. Spatial learning in the PO group decreased significantly compared with that in control and CO groups (p<0.05). Crocodile oil significantly decreased the percentage of abnormal mitochondria (p<0.05) and the expression of apoptotic marker (p<0.05) compared with those in the PO treatment but also increased energy production marker (p<0.05) compared with those in the control and PO treatment. Moreover, percentage of intact hippocampal cells was not different between CO and control groups, but neuronal cells were lost in the PO group (p<0.05). This study suggest that CO could enhance the brain energy production and maintain cognitive function. CO can be an alternative dietary oil for treating brain energy disorder in the future.

Keywords: Cognition; crocodile oil; energy production; mitochondrial function; palm oil

Abstrak

Minyak buaya (CO) kaya dengan asid lemak tak tepu (PUFA). Diet yang kaya dengan PUFA boleh mengekalkan fungsi mitokondria, penting dalam transduksi isyarat dan kemandirian sel neuron. Kami mengkaji kesan CO pada pengekspresan protein mitokondria otak dan fungsi kognitif pada tikus jantan. Dua puluh satu tikus dibahagikan secara rawak kepada tiga kumpulan: (1) kawalan, (2) dirawat dengan CO (3 mL/kg) dan (3) dirawat dengan minyak sawit (PO; 3 mL/kg). Haiwan menerima gavage oral sekali sehari selama tujuh minggu. Parameter yang diukur ialah pengambilan makanan, pengambilan tenaga, berat badan, profil lipid serum, tingkah laku kognitif, seni bina mitokondria otak, pengekspresan mitokondria otak dan struktur hipokampus. Dalam kumpulan CO dan PO, pengambilan makanan menurun dengan ketara berbanding dengan kumpulan kawalan (p<0.05), tetapi pengambilan tenaga, berat badan dan profil lipid tidak terjejas. Pembelajaran ruang dalam kumpulan PO menurun dengan ketara berbanding dengan kumpulan kawalan dan CO (p<0.05). Minyak buaya menurunkan peratusan mitokondria yang tidak normal (p<0.05) dan pengekspresan penanda apoptosis dengan ketara (p<0.05) berbanding dengan rawatan PO tetapi juga meningkatkan penanda pengeluaran tenaga (p<0.05) berbanding dalam kawalan dan rawatan PO. Selain itu, peratusan sel hipokampus utuh tidak berbeza antara CO dan kumpulan kawalan, tetapi sel neuron hilang dalam kumpulan PO (p <0.05). Kajian ini mencadangkan bahawa CO boleh meningkatkan pengeluaran tenaga otak dan mengekalkan fungsi kognitif. CO boleh menjadi minyak pemakanan alternatif untuk merawat gangguan tenaga otak pada masa hadapan.

Kata kunci: Fungsi mitokondria; kognisi; minyak buaya; minyak sawit; pengeluaran tenaga

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