[Effect of soybean isoflavones on the cognitive performance of mice deprived of sleeping for 72h].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect and mechanism of Soybean Isoflavones (SIF) on the cognitive performance of female mice after sleep deprivation for 72h. METHOD: Forty female mice were randomly divided into 5 groups:the control, sleep deprivation control (SDC), and three SIF groups (SIF L, SIF M and SIF H). SIF groups were administered by intra-gastric injection of SIF 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg bw respectively for 30 days. The control and SDC groups were administered with equal volume of normal saline. The 72h SD mice model was induced by the single platform technique. The cognitive ability of mice was tested by Y-maze. Antioxidant indicators (CAT, MDA and T-AOC) and neurotransmitters (NO, Glu and Ach) in cerebra were measured. RESULT: Compared with the control group, the cognitive abilities, CAT activities, T-AOC and Ach levels were decreased and NO, MDA and GLu contents were increased in mice after sleep deprivation for 72h. Compared with the SDC group, the cognitive abilities were improved and Ach contents were increased in SIF M and SIF H groups, T-AOC levels were improved in three SIF groups. CAT activities, MDA, NO and Glu contents were decreased in SIF H group only. CONCLUSION: The cognitive ability of 72h SD female mice could be improved by SIF, the mechanism of which might be involved in increasing antioxidant function, decreasing the damage of free radicals on cranial nerves and adjusting the neuron transmitter of cerebra.