THE EFFECT OF A COMPLEX OF FOOD ADDITIVES ON COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS AND THE SPEED OF CONDITIONED REFLEX FORMATION

S.M. Bilash; Ya.O. Oliinichenko; O.M. Pronina; S.V. Donchenko; M.M. Koptev; A.V. Pirog-Zakaznikova; O.V. Davydova; M.O. Oliinichenko; O.V. Bezeha; O.V. Mamai; N.S. Kopytko

doi:10.34921/amj.2024.1.021

Authors

S.M. Bilash Poltava State Medical University
Ya.O. Oliinichenko Poltava State Medical University
O.M. Pronina Poltava State Medical University
S.V. Donchenko Poltava State Medical University
M.M. Koptev Poltava State Medical University
A.V. Pirog-Zakaznikova Poltava State Medical University
O.V. Davydova Kremenchuk Mykhailo Ostrohradskyi National University
M.O. Oliinichenko Poltava State Medical University
O.V. Bezeha Poltava State Medical University
O.V. Mamai Poltava State Medical University
N.S. Kopytko Poltava State Medical University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34921/amj.2024.1.021

Keywords:

cognitive dysfunction, rats, food additives, monosodium glutamate, sodium nitrite, Ponceau 4R, experimental study, behavioral response, conditioned reflex

Abstract

The article provides information about a research study conducted to establish changes in behavioral reactions of rats at different times of use of a complex of chemical food additives (monosodium glutamate, sodium nitrite, Ponceau 4R).
The study was based on administering experimental laboratory rats subgroups for 1, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks of a complex of food additives once a day orally. Cognitive function was determined by assessing the formation rate of a conditioned food-retrieval reflex in a complex maze.
The assessment of the behavior of experimental animals in a complex maze showed that at the initial time of introducing a complex of food additives (up to week 8), the obtained results had positive dynamics, with values of p<0.05. All evaluated parameters had a negative trend from the 12th week of the experimental study. Significantly (p<0.05), the worst indicators were registered after the 20th week of the experimental study.
It was found that consumption of a complex of food additives leads to cognitive dysfunction in rats, which was characterised by impaired memory function as well as learning ability.