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Comparative effect of selected caloric and non-caloric sweeteners on some neuroinflammatory indices in brain cortex and hippocampus of scopolamine-induced rat

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Abstract

Purpose

Sweeteners are common in the human diet under different physiological conditions. Using a rat model of scopolamine-induced amnesia, this study aimed to compare the neuroinflammatory effects of sucrose (caloric) and aspartame (non-caloric), two popular sweeteners in Nigeria beverages and non-alcoholic drinks.

Methods

The study used male Wistar rats that were separated into six groups: a control group, a scopolamine group, and two additional groups that received scopolamine combined with either sucrose or aspartame at varying concentrations estimated from common beverages and non-alcoholic drinks in Nigeria (low and high consumption). All sweeteners were administered to the treatment groups once daily for 14 days, while the control group received distilled water. On days 12 and 14, scopolamine was administered. Thereafter, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), activities of adenosine deaminase (ADA), arginase, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), as well as immunohistochemical analysis of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ionic calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA1), were determined in the brain cortex and hippocampus.

Results

Results showed that both sucrose and aspartame either maintained or aggravated the impairments caused by scopolamine in both the cortex and hippocampus. Particularly in the hippocampus, sucrose significantly aggravated the scopolamine-induced elevated TNF-α and reduced arginase and acetylcholinesterase activities, while in the cortex, sucrose aggravated scopolamine-induced elevated TNF-α and GFAP reactivity, while reducing ADA activity. On the other hand, aspartame aggravated Iba1 reactivity in the cortex.

Conclusion

In conclusion, at estimated levels found in common beverages and nonalcoholic drinks in Nigeria, both for low and high consumers, both sucrose and aspartame, and particularly aspartame, aggravated indices of neuroinflammation in the scopolamine-induced amnesic rat model. Consequently, these sweeteners may not be advisable under amnesic conditions. However, considering the limitations of animal studies, further studies, particularly clinical evaluations in humans, are highly encouraged.

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Data availability

Data associated with this study is available through the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support of International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) and Alzheimer’s Association.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Technology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Federal University of Technology (FUTA), Akure, Nigeria

    Ogunsuyi Opeyemi Babatunde & Oyeleye Idowu Sunday

  2. Drosophila Research Lab, Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, The Federal University of Technology (FUTA), Akure, Nigeria

    Ogunsuyi Opeyemi Babatunde, Adedayo Bukola Christiana, Oyeleye Idowu Sunday, Aro Olayemi Philemon, Akinniyi Stephanie Tolulope & Oboh Ganiyu

  3. Department of Biochemistry, The Federal University of Technology (FUTA), Akure, Nigeria

    Adedayo Bukola Christiana, Aro Olayemi Philemon, Akinniyi Stephanie Tolulope & Oboh Ganiyu

  4. Laboratory for Experimental and Translational Neurobiology, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Nigeria

    Ijomone Omamuyovwi Meashack

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  1. Ogunsuyi Opeyemi Babatunde
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Contributions

B.C. and O.B. came up with the concept for the study. S.T. carried out the bench work with input from O.B. The histopathology experiments were carried out in O. M.'s lab, while other bench work was done in G.O.'s lab. The data was gotten and recorded by S.T., after which it was curated by O.B. and B.C. The results were given a thorough review by all the authors, after which a manuscript was developed by O. P. This manuscript was first reviewed by the corresponding author (O.B.) after which all other authors reviewed the manuscript and sent it out for publication.

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Correspondence to Ogunsuyi Opeyemi Babatunde.

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The handling and use of the animals were in accordance with institutional ethical guide for the care and use of laboratory animals under ethical approval FUTA/ETH/21/20.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Babatunde, O.O., Christiana, A.B., Sunday, O.I. et al. Comparative effect of selected caloric and non-caloric sweeteners on some neuroinflammatory indices in brain cortex and hippocampus of scopolamine-induced rat. Nutrire 49, 13 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41110-024-00254-x

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