The Effect of Vitamin E Supplement on Motor Activity and Spatial Learning in Aged Rats

Aging has negative effects on motor and cognitive functions، so it is essential to identify appropriate strategies to prevent the decrease of motor and cognitive functions. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of vitamin E supplement on motor activity and spatial learning in aged rats. 36 male Albino – Wistar aged rats were assigned to three groups of control، vitamin E and sham. E group received daily 100 mg (50 IU) of vitamin E per kg of body weight with 0. 5 ml sesame oil via gavage during 8 weeks. Sham group received daily 0. 5 ml sesame oil، but control group did not receive any treatment. After the end of the protocol، open – field and Morris water maze tests were used to respectively assess motor functions and spatial learning. Distance moved and movement speed was used to assess motor function and latency and distance moved to the find platform was used to assess spatial learning. Results showed that in motor function، there was no statistically significant difference among groups in distance moved and movement speed factors (P>0. 05). In addition، there was no statistically significant difference among groups in all factors of spatial learning and memory (P>0. 05). The results showed that vitamin E did not significantly influence motor and cognitive functions of aged rats. Vitamin E supplement appears not to be efficient in the aging period when antioxidant damages caused irreversible memory destruction.