Feeding Vitamin C During Neonatal and Juvenile Growth Improve Learning and Memory of Rats

We investigated the effects of feeding vitamin C (Vit C) during neonatal and juvenile growth on learning and memory of rats. Rats after delivery were randomly divided into four groups and treated. Materials and Methods: Rats after delivery were randomly divided into four groups and treated. Group 1, control group received normal drinking water. Groups 2-4 received Vit C 10, 100, and 500 mg/kg, respectively, from the first day. After 8 weeks, 10 male offspring of each group were randomly selected and tested in the Morris water maze (MWM) and passive avoidance (PA) tests. Finally, the brains were removed for biochemical measurement. Results: In MWM, 10-500 mg/kg Vit C reducedthe latency and traveled distance and increased time spent in the target quadrant. In PA, 10 and 100 mg/ kg of Vit C increased the latency; 10-500 mg/kg of Vit C decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain tissues and increased thiol and catalase (CAT) activity compared to the control group. Conclusion: We showed that feeding rats Vit C during neonatal and juvenile growth has positive effects on learning and memory.