Effect of NeuroAid Supplement on the NR1 and NR2 Protein Levels in Prefrontal Cortex and Striatum of Male Rats With Total Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation has negative effects on consciousness and performance. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors are a subset of glutamate receptors consisting of subunits NR1 and NR2. In the present study, the effect of a traditional Chinese medicine supplement called NeuroAid on the levels of NR1 and NR2 proteins in the striatum and prefrontal cortex of rat under total sleep deprivation (TSD) was evaluated.

ats were randomly divided into four groups of control (n=5), sham (n=5), TSD (n=5), TSD + supplementation (n=5) and sham + supplemention (n=5). After 24 hours of testing, the prefrontal cortex and striatum of the rats were removed and the levels of NR1 and NR2 proteins were assessed by Western blotting. Differences between protein levels were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-test.

TSD reduced the expression of both NR1 and NR2 proteins in the striatum and prefrontal cortex of rats. There was no significant difference in the expression of any proteins in the two regions of sham group compared to the control rats. Two intraperitoneal injections of 0.8 mg/kg NeuroAid significantly increased the expression of both proteins in both regions compared to the TSD group. In the sham + supplemention group, the expression of both proteins in the two regions increased significantly compared to the sham group.

The use of NeuroAid supplement can increase the levels of NR1 and NR2 proteins in rats with TSD.