Experimental study of cognitive function against the background of partial food derivation and its correction

Abstract

Tumors of the head and neck account for a significant percentage of all oncopathology. Oral cancer is most often diagnosed. The location of the tumor and its invasion causes swallowing disorders in the preoperative period, which is exacerbated in the postoperative period due to bulky defects. Impaired swallowing leads to reduced nutritional status. Of interest is cognitive function against the background of nutritional deficiency. Metabolic disorders such as obesity are known to adversely affect cognitive function and may even lead to dementia. But it is still unknown how food deprivation affects the cognitive function of rats, as well as the ability of animals to cope with stressful situations, because hunger is one of the models of stressors. Objective – to assess the state of cognitive function and stress resistance against the background of partial food deprivation and its correction in the experiment. The work was performed on 60 adult male rats weighing 280±20 g (M±m) of the Wistar line. Prior to the experimental study, the animals were on partial food deprivation (PFD). After weight loss, rats were divided into 4 groups depending on the dietary adjustment schemes: 1 group - control animals, nutrition according to physiological needs; Group 2, partial food derivation (PFD), without compensatory nutrition; Group 3 – compensatory enteral nutrition with food mixture "Peptamen" (PFD+EX); Group 4 – enteral nutrition and the drug Glutargin (PFD+EX+Glutargin). Behavioral response and cognitive function were determined in the open field test and in the CRPA model (conditioned reflex of passive avoidance). Our results show that rats with partial food deprivation are more prone to stress and can not find a sure way out of this situation. Also, throughout the study period, they suffered from cognitive function, as evidenced by the CRPA test data. In the study of resistance to stress on the background of partial food derivation, rats that continued to receive a limited diet by indicators (ambulation, grooming, rearing. defecation) were not stress-resistant, compared with the control group on the background of compensatory nutrition (p<0.05). During all periods of the study of cognitive function there was a change in the rate of stay in the light chamber with a significant (p<0.05) improvement in group 1 – 20.5%, group 3 – 18.36% and group 4 – 19.53%.