Open AccessNeurotropic effects of aspartame, stevia and sucralose on memory retention and on the histology of the hippocampus of the ICR mice ( Mus musculus )
Author(s) -
Lejan Miguel Alabastro Villareal,
Rachelle Anne Montes Cruz,
Michael B Ples,
Rodel Jonathan S Vitor
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
asian pacific journal of tropical biomedicine/asian pacific journal of tropical biomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.507
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 2588-9222
pISSN - 2221-1691
DOI - 10.1016/j.apjtb.2015.11.001
Subject(s) - sucralose , aspartame , hippocampus , histology , hippocampal formation , morris water navigation task , medicine , zoology , chemistry , pharmacology , biology , endocrinology , food science
ObjectiveTo identify the effects of the consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners on memory retention and on the histology of the hippocampus.MethodsIn this study, 20 mice were used to determine if there is an effect of consuming the maximum allowable dose of the non-nutritive sweeteners on the memory retention and on the histology of the hippocampus. The mice were distributed into four groups and the treatments were given via oral gavage: Group 1 (water), Group 2 (aspartame: 1000 mg/kg), Group 3 (stevia: 1000 mg/kg) and Group 4 (sucralose: 16000 mg/kg). Treatments were administered to the different experimental groups for 32 days, after which memory retention was tested using the two-day water maze protocol. After the tests, the mice were sacrificed and the brain was analyzed histologically for neurotrophic effects.ResultsBased on the results of the two-day water maze protocol, there were no differences between the non-nutritive sweeteners and the control group. However, stevia showed high cellular apoptosis followed by aspartame, sucralose and control group.ConclusionsThere was no significant effect on the memory of the mice. It showed histologically however, that stevia had a significant neurotropic effect compared to the other sweeteners