Litter reduction-induced obesity promotes early depressive-like behavior and elevated prefrontal cortex GFAP expression in male offspring.

AIMS: The present study was developed to investigate how litter reduction-induced obesity promotes early depressive-related behaviors in rodent offspring. MAIN METHODS: We employed a standardized litter size reduction protocol, dividing litters into groups: normal litters (NL), consisting of six males and six females pups and small litters (SL), comprising two males and two females pups. Maternal behavior was monitored during the initial week of lactation. Subsequently, we assessed the pups for weight gain, locomotor activity, social play behavior, and performance in forced swimming test. We further evaluated the weights of retroperitoneal and perigonadal fat tissues, along with the expression of glial fibrillary acidic pprotein (GFAP) in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of the offspring. KEY FINDINGS: Our results indicated that litter size reduction led to an increased the maternal behavior. In contrast, offspring from the SL group displayed greater weight gain and increased, retroperitoneal and perigonadal fat. Both male and female rodents in the SL group exhibited decreased social play behavior, and male offspring spent more time immobile during the forced swimming test, suggesting a depressive-like phenotype. Notably, we observed an increase in the GFAP expression in the prefrontal cortex of male rodents, with a trend toward increased expression in the hippocampus. SIGNIFICANCE: Obesity may facilitate the development of early depressive-like behaviors, potentially associated with elevated GFAP expression in the prefrontal cortex.

Evaluation of anxiolytic-like effect of 7-epiclusianone isolated from Garcinia brasiliensis in mice

ABSTRACT Garcinia brasiliensis Mart., Clusiaceae, species became the target of studies for some years because it has several compounds including polyprenylated benzophenones, as 7-epiclusianone. This benzophenone has several properties, such as leishmanicidal, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects, however still did not be studied anxiolytic activity. For this, the open field and elevated plus maze tests were used in order to evaluate the effect of administration of 7-epiclusianone (isolated from G. brasiliensis) on behavioral performance. Swiss male mice (n = 10 per group) were pre-treated with vegetable oil (10 ml/kg; i.p.) or 7-epiclusianone (1, 3 or 10 mg/kg, i.p.) or diazepam (0.2 mg/kg, i.p.). After 1 h, the animals were submitted to the open field and elevated plus maze tests. The administration of 7-epiclusianone exerted a possible anxiolytic effect in the open field, increased the number of central crossings and anti-tigmotactic effect. In pre-treated group with 7-epiclusianone (10 mg/kg) was also possible to determine a possible anxiolytic effect in the elevated plus maze due to increased permanence of animals in the open arms. The results suggest a possible anxiolytic-like effect presented by the 7-epiclusianone and suggest its potential for the treatment of anxiety.