Effect of DL-alpha-lipoic acid on neural antioxidants in aged rats.

The effect of DL-alpha-lipoic acid on lipid peroxidation and antioxidants were evaluated in various brain regions of young and aged rats. In aged rats, the levels of ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol and glutathione were low whereas the lipid peroxidation rate, as revealed by malonaldehyde content, was found to be high. Lipoic acid, an antioxidant, was administered intraperitoneally (100 mg/kg body weight/day) for 7 and 14 days. Lipoate-administered aged rats brought about reduction in lipid peroxidation and elevation in the levels of antioxidants. The modulatory effect of lipoate in decreasing age-associated alterations observed in our study proves its role as a potent antioxidant in the brain of aged rats. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.