Non-Pharmacological Inhibition of Aging: Neuroendocrine and Antioxidant Protection of the Liver under the Influence of an Enriched Environment

The study examined systemic effects of short-term exposure to an enriched environment (EE) on the morphofunctional state of the liver, oxidative-antioxidant balance, and hormonal status in young (3 months) and mature (12 months) males of Wistar rats. In adult control rats, signs of physiological aging were detected: a significant decrease in brain mass ratio, depletion of liver glycogen stores, accumulation of fluorochromes, development of oxidative stress and hormonal imbalance. EE exposure in the regimen of 2 weeks for 10 min/day exerted a pronounced protective effect predominantly in aged animals: brain mass coefficient increased, glycogen content in hepatocytes rose, fluorochrome content in the liver decreased, superoxide dismutase activity increased, and hormonal profile normalized. Young rats showed no significant changes under EE influence, indicating sufficient intrinsic adaptive reserves at this age. The obtained data demonstrate age-dependent modulation of systemic homeostasis under cognitive-sensory stimulation via mechanisms of neuroendocrine regulation and reduction of oxidative damage, opening prospects for developing non-pharmacological strategies to slow aging and maintain functional liver reserve during maturity.