[Comparative experimental study of the influence of drugs that improve brain metabolism (angiogen, cytoflavin) on neuronal apoptosis and function of cerebral cortex during aging].

The safety of cortical neurons and their functional activity is essential for organism at all stages of ontogenesis. However, aging changes leading to an increase in apoptosis level may cause considerable damage to cerebral cortex function, including sensorimotor. We have studied the role of exogenous neurometabolites (angiogen, cytoflavin) in apoptosis regulation and correction of age-related motor and behavioral disturbances. To study the regulation of neuronal morphofunctional activity, we used accelerate-senescent transgenic HER2 mice in comparison to wild type FBV mice. Functional changes in cerebral cortex were studied by the Suok test and open field test, the level of neuronal apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL method, the expression of apoptosis-modulating proteins was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. We have revealed differences in psycho-emotional and locomotor activity of these strains of mice. In addition, results of our study showed morphological differences: increase in the apoptosis level of cortical neurons in aged FBV type mice, but no changes in aged HER2 mice. The investigated drugs induce cell death of cortical neurons in transgenic mice of both ages and in young wild-type mice by p53-dependent pathway. Increased apoptosis in the cortex of old transgenic mice has important clinical implications, because reduced apoptosis during aging is one of the causes of cancer. The treatment of old wild-type animals reduces elevated neuronal apoptosis, which decreases risk of age neurodegeneration. Thus, revealed morphological changes in the cerebral cortex are the basis for involutional disabilities (including reduced locomotor activity and increased anxiety level). The use of angiogen and cytoflavin treatment improves functional activity of the cortex and protects normal structure of nervous tissue.