Correlation of Age-Related Metabonomic Changes in 1H NMR Serum and Urine Profiles of Rats with Cognitive Function

Age related metabonomic changes in young and aged male albino rats have been investigated using Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. The studies were performed using ‘in vivo’ behavioral and metabonomic assessment in serum and urine of the rats. Significant changes (p<0.05) were obtained in the concentration of creatinine, allantoin and hippurate in urine. Also significant (p<0.05) alterations were also discernible in acetate, pyruvate, lactate, creatine and glucose in serum. Attempts have been made to correlate these changes with the cognitive impairment and perturbed energy metabolism in aged rats. The metabonomic evaluation of age related changes in serum and urine showed altered concentrations of many Krebs cycle intermediates in old rats. Likewise it was associated with diminished mitochondrial functioning. On the basis of our results it is suggested that the observed changes may be an early clinical indication of cognitive decline related to dementia.