Glucosamine modulates membrane and cellular ionic homeostasis: studies on accelerated senescent and naturally aged rats

ABSTRACT Glucosamine, an amino-polysaccharide, has been widely used for alleviating osteoarthritis. . In the present study, attempts have been made to evaluate the potential role of glucosamine, a caloric restriction mimetic (CRM), for erythrocyte membrane transporter protection in D-galactose (D-gal) induced accelerated and natural aging models of rat specifically Ca2+-ATPases (PMCA pump), Na+/K+-ATPases (NKA pump), and the Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) and redox biomarkers during aging. The study comprised of young (3–4 months old; 150 ± 20 g), naturally aged (above 24 months; 420 ± 20 g) and D-galactose-induced aged (3–4 months old; 150 ± 20 g, administered with D-Gal at 300 mg/kg B.W., subcutaneously) male albino rats of Wistar strain. All the rats were supplemented with Glucosamine hydrochloride (300 mg/kg body weight) for 12 weeks. There was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the activity of Ca2+-ATPases, Na+/K+-ATPases and induced NHE activity in D-Gal and naturally old rats. Levels of redox biomarkers such as intracellular Ca2+ ion, protein carbonyl, and lipid hydroperoxides were also found to be increased significantly (P < 0.05). These results were found to be reversed in the rats supplemented with glucosamine. Our findings suggest that glucosamine supplementation improves ion homeostasis by protecting the erythrocyte membrane transporters against age-related alterations.