Dynamic changes in the hippocampal memory index and biochemical indices in Sprague Dawley rats exposed to intrauterine kola nut

Kola nut is commonly consumed by pregnant women to suppress symptoms of morning sickness. This study investigated the effects of kola nut on the biochemical indices of the hippocampus and its dependent memory. Kola nut extract was fed to pregnant dams from the first day of their pregnancy until parturition. The following behavioral function tests were conducted: surface righting (SR); cliff avoidance (post-natal day [PND] 4, 5, 6 & 7); open field; novel object recognition and location; and radial-arm maze (PND 21 and 56). The levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), acetylcholine (ACh), and malondialdehyde (MDA) of the matched hippocampal tissues were also checked in the pups. The kola nut-treated pups showed significantly reduced behavioral indices compared to the pups in the control group: lower postural balance, higher risk avoidance memory, and lower frequency in pivoting and rearing compared to that in the control group. However, the frequency of urine and fecal bolus was significantly lower in the pups in the control group than that in the treated pups. The discrimination ratio of the control group pups in novel object recognition (NOR) and novel object location (NOL) was significantly higher than that in the treated pups, and the time taken by the treated pups to complete RAM was significantly higher. The levels of ACh and BDNF in the treated pups were increased compared to that in control pups. A positive correlation was found between MDA and SR (r = 0.7207; p = 0.0437), grooming (r = 0.7707; p = 0.0252), and fecal bolus (r = 0.7606; p = 0.0284), as well as with the BDNF level in those treated with grooming (r = 0.7570; p = 0.0297). However, negative correlations between ACh and rearing (r = -0.8261; p = 0.0115) and fecal bolus (r = -0.8066; p = 0.0156) and a positive correlation with NOL (r = 0.8358; p = 0.0098) were observed. Based on these observations, the study concluded that Kola nut affects both biochemical and hippocampal memory profiles.