Effect of Dietary Tigernut on Acetylcholinesterase, Specific Acetylcholinester, and Total Protein Levels in Rabbit Brains of Different Genotupes

Abstract

This research investigated the impact of different levels of dietary Cyperus esculentus (tigernut) on acetylcholinesterase, specific acetylcholinesterase, and total protein concentrations in various brain regions of three rabbit genotypes. Male and female Dutch belted, Hyla max, and Newzealand white rabbits, totaling 320 at 6 weeks of age, were randomly assigned to diets containing 0, 10, 20, or 30g/kg of tigernut. Each treatment group was replicated five times with 15 rabbits per replicate. The rabbits were provided with ad-libitum feeding and clean water for 8 weeks or 56 days, after which six rabbits per replicate were euthanized. The brains were dissected into different regions including the olfactory lobe, pineal body, optic lobe, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata. The brain regions were homogenized to assess acetylcholinesterase and total protein concentrations, which were further used to evaluate specific acetylcholinesterase levels. The study found no significant differences in acetylcholinesterase activity in the olfactory lobe, pineal body, and cerebellum, except for the optic lobe and medulla. Additionally, dietary tigernut did not affect total protein and specific acetyl-cholinesterase activities in the olfactory lobe and medulla regions. However, tigernut intake had significant effects on total protein levels in other brain regions, leading to significant changes in specific acetyl-cholinesterase levels in the cerebellum. These findings suggest that tigernut added to rabbit diets at levels above 20 g/kg significantly alters brain acetylcholinesterase concentration, total protein levels, and specific acetylcholinesterase, potentially impairing brain functionality.