Introduction: Cuprizone is a neurotoxicant causing neurodegeneration through enzyme inhibition and oxidative
stress. D-Ribose-L-Cysteine (DRLC) is a powerful antioxidant with neuroprotective properties. This study
explored the antioxidant response of DRLC against cuprizone-induced behavioral alterations, biochemical
imbalance, and hippocampal neuronal damage in adult Wistar rats.
Materials and methods: Thirty-two (32) adult male Wistar rats (150–200g) were divided into four groups (n = 8).
Group A received normal saline only as placebo; Group B received 0.5% cuprizone diet only; Group C received a
combination of 0.5% cuprizone diet and 100 mg/kg BW of DRLC and Group D received 100 mg/kg BW of DRLC
only. The administration was done through oral gavage once daily for 45 days. After the last treatment, neurobehavioral
tests (Morris Water Maze and Y maze) was conducted; animals sacrificed and brain harvested for
histological analysis and biochemical estimations of levels of antioxidants, oxidative stress markers, neurotransmitters
and enzyme activities.
Results: The results showed significant memory decline, hippocampal alterations, decrease levels of antioxidant
markers, enzyme and neurotransmitters activities with a concomitant increase in norepinephrine and oxidative
stress markers in cuprizone induced rats relative to normal but were attenuated with DRLC administration.
Conclusion: Cuprizone causes cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration through oxidative stress; however,
administration of DRLC ameliorated neuropathological alteration induced by cuprizone.