Changes In Raft Hippocampus In Aged Rats Supplemented With Citrulline

Rationale Lipid rafts in brain are involved in cell signaling, and identified by the protein flottilin‐1. They contain a part of the precursor of peptide β‐amyloid (APP) and are involved in peptide β‐amyloid synthesis. Caveolae, sub‐populations of rafts, are characterized by protein caveolin‐1. Modifications in composition of rafts could be responsible of neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this work was to evaluate the long‐term effect of citrulline (CIT) supplementation on rafts properties in healthy aged rat hippocampus. Methods 20‐month‐old male Sprague‐Dawley rats (n=20) were randomized to be fed with chow diet or CIT‐enriched diet (1 g.kg −1 .d −1 ) for 12 weeks. Brain hippocampi were recovered. Lipid rafts were prepared and expression of flotillin‐1, caveolin‐1 and APP was assessed by western blot. 6‐week‐old male rats were used as control. Results In young rats, 3 populations of rafts were pointed out (light, heavy, intermediate) considering flottilin‐1 expression. In the ageing group an increase of heavy rafts associated with a caveolin‐1 enrichment were observed at the same time that lost of both others populations. In CIT group, an intermediate pattern was pointed out: thought a same enrichment of heavy rafts was observed, some heavy and intermediate rafts populations were still remaining. Conclusion CIT supplementation during ageing seems to affect rafts composition.