α-Tocopherol regulates ectonucleotidase activities in synaptosomes from rats fed a high-fat diet

a-Tocopherol (a-Toc) is involved in various physiologic processes, which present antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. High-fat diets have an important role in neurodegenerative diseases and neurological disturbances. This study aimed to investigate the effects of treatment with a-Toc and the consumption of high-fat diets on ectonucleotidase activities in synaptosomes of cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum of rats. Animals were divided into four different groups, which received standard diet (control), high-fat saturated diet (HF), a-Toc and high-fat saturated diet plus a-Toc (a-Toc?+?HF). High-fat saturated diet was administered ad libitum and a-Toc by gavage using a dose of 50?mg.kg1. After 3?months of treatment, animals were submitted to euthanasia, and cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum were collected for biochemical assays. Results showed that adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) hydrolysis in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum were decreased in HF in comparison to the other groups (P?