Maternal rat prenatal and neonatal treatment with pequi pulp reduces anxiety and lipid peroxidation in brain tissue of rat offspring at adolescence.

The Pequi fruit (Caryocar Brasiliense cambess), typical of the Brazilian cerrado or savannah, is a source of essential fatty acids, carotenoids, and phenolic compounds. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of consuming this fruit on anxiety behavior and lipid peroxidation in the brains of rats whose mothers were treated (by gavage) during pregnancy and lactation with Pequi fruit (pulp or nuts) at 2000 mg/kg of body weight. Anxiety parameters were assessed using the open field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM), and light/dark box (LDB) tests. The brain was removed to measure malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Data were analyzed using One-way Anova (p < 0.05). In the OF, the animals in the pulp group presented more time spent in the central area (20.37 ± 0.73 vs Control: 12.51 ± 0.39; Nuts: 8.28 ± 0.40) and increased locomotion (159.7 ± 6.10) compared to the other groups (Control: 127.3 ± 5.54; Nuts: 139.08 ± 6.57). In the EPM, the pulp group entered into the open arms (8.57 ± 0.36) and stayed more time in the central area (19.44 ± 1.17) compared to the Nuts group (7.14 ± 0.34; 13.00 ± 1.57). In the LDB the pulp group entered more (8.00 ± 0.42 vs Control: 7.16 ± 0.16 and Nuts: 7.42 ± 0.75) and stayed longer in the clear light side (92.18 ± 6.42) than all the other groups (Control: 71.44 ± 3.53; Nuts: 80.57 ± 6.50), respectively. Pulp group presented lower MDA in the brain (55.34 ± 3.04) compared to Control (72.06 ± 4.66) and Nuts (66.57 ± 2.45). We conclude that Pequi pulp consumption during pregnancy and lactation reduces lipid peroxidation in brain tissue and induces anxiolytic-like behavior in rat offspring. These effects were not observed in the Pequi nuts group.

Effect of Conjugated Linoleic Acid on Memory and Reflex Maturation in Rats Treated During Early Life.

In the critical period of neurodevelopment (gestation and lactation), maternal consumption of essential fatty acids (FAs) can alter the offspring cognitive function permanently causing damage. Lipids can regulate neurotrophin and compose brain tissue. However, the effects of maternal consumption of a mixture of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on an offspring nervous system are not completely clear. We aimed to investigate the impacts of different CLA concentrations mixed into the maternal diet during early life on neonatal reflex maturation and cognitive functions of the offspring. Three groups were formed: control (CG): receiving a standard diet; CLA1: receiving a diet containing 1% of CLA, and CLA3: receiving a diet containing 3% of CLA, offered during gestation and lactation. After birth, the reflex responses of the offspring were observed from the 1st to the 21st day. After weaning, the animals' anxiety and memory were assessed using open field (OF) and novel object recognition tests. Fatty acids in the breast milk and the offspring's brain were also quantified. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test. CLA1 presented accelerated palmar grasp disappearance versus CLA3 and negative-geotaxis versus CG; and the CLA3 presented increases for most reflexes (cliff-avoidance, vibrissa-placing, negative-geotaxis, and auditory-startle response), and decrease in reflexes palmar grasp and free-fall righting versus CG (p < 0.05). CLA3 group explored less of the OF in the second exposure. CLA1 and CLA3 presented an increased exploration ratio for new objects, which indicates memory improvement. The milk tested from CLA3 demonstrated an increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and a decrease in monounsaturated fatty acids. The amount of CLA in milk was greater in CLA1 and CLA3 and in the brain offspring both presented moderated amounts of CLA. Maternal treatment with the CLA mixture induced anticipated reflex maturation and improved memory in the offspring. Even though CLA was detected in the brains in only trace amounts, offspring's brain PUFA and SFA levels were increased. Further studies aimed to delineate the effect of maternal CLA supplementation on offspring's brain lipid metabolism and long-term neurologic outcome are needed to confirm these findings.

Effect of diets with goat milk fat supplemented with exercise on anxiety and oxidative stress in the brains of adult rats.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of a diet with goat milk fat supplemented with physical training on markers of oxidative stress in the brain and anxiety behavior in rats. Adult male rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 10 per group): control sedentary (CON) and exercised (CON-EX) groups, goat milk fat sedentary (GM) and exercised (GM-EX) groups, goat milk fat enriched with CLA sedentary (GM-CLA) and exercised (GM-CLA-EX) groups. The exercised groups were submitted to treadmill running during four weeks. Anxiety parameters were evaluated with the open field (OF) and elevated plus maze (EPM) tests. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured in the brain. Compared to the CON and GM groups, the GM-CLA group (p < 0.05), in which the animals were treated with goat milk fat with an increased CLA content, showed higher rearing. All exercised animals presented an increase in grooming when compared to sedentary animals. The number of entries in the open arms and time spent in the open arms was higher in sedentary groups (p < 0.05). MDA levels in the brain were lower in the GM group when compared to those in the CON group (p < 0.05). MDA increased in exercised animals (p < 0.05). GM and GM-CLA groups showed a significant elevation in the GSH levels in the brain. Goat milk fat, however, showed a potential effect on the reduction of oxidative stress, which was associated with a reduction in anxiety behavior. However, this beneficial effect was reversed when exercise was involved.

Efeito do consumo de hambúrguer de carne de avestruz e hambúrguer bovino comercial em ratos jovens, pela análise de teores de colesterol total e frações lipoproteicas / Assessing the effect in young rats fed with ostrich meat hamburger and commercial beef hamburger, by analyzing the total cholesterol and lipoprotein fractions contents

O consumo de produtos menos calóricos, produzidos com substitutos de gordura, é alternativa viável na produção de alimentos mais saudáveis, como hambúrgueres, muito apreciados por jovens frequentadores assíduos de lanchonetes. Neste trabalho foi avaliada a influência do consumo de hambúrguer de carne da coxa (Gastrocnemius pars interna) de avestruz (Struthio camelus) e hambúrguer de carne bovina nos teores de colesterol total, triglicerídeos HDL-colesterol, LDL- colesterol e VLDL-colesterol. Três grupos de 11 ratos machos Wistar de 50 dias de vida foram alimentados com três tipos de dietas, o grupo A que consumiu a dieta de hambúrguer de carne de avestruz, o grupo B alimentado com a dieta de hambúrguer de carne bovina e o grupo C (grupo controle caseira) com dieta padrão caseína durante 50 dias. O hambúrguer de carne de avestruz apresentou melhores qualidades do que o hambúrguer de carne bovina nos resultados das análises da composição centesimal e na quantificação dos ácidos graxos e perfil lipídico mais equilibrado. Nos exames histopatológicos observou-se quadro de esteatose hepática na lâmina do grupo de animais que consumiram hambúrguer de boi. O percentual de gordura nesse grupo também foi maior, provavelmente por ter sido submetido a uma dieta como maior quantidade de gordura.

Uso da Spirulina platensis na recuperação de ratos submetidos à dieta de restrição proteica / Use of Spirulina platensis for recovering rats under protein restriction diet feeding

O presente estudo avaliou a ação da espirulina como fonte protéica na recuperação do estado nutricional de ratos machos adultos. Foram estudados 48 animais, divididos em quatro grupos de acordo com a dieta: grupo controle de caseína (CC) e grupo controle de espirulina (CE), que receberam dieta equilibrada durante todo o experimento; grupo recuperado de caseína (RC) e grupo recuperado de espirulina (RE), que consumiram dieta com restrição protéica durante 60 dias e, a seguir, receberam a dieta equilibrada à base de caseína e espirulina, respectivamente, durante 90 dias. Foram analisadas a composição centesimal e a microbiológica da Spirulina platensis, bem como o ganho em peso dos animais. Após o sacrifício dos animais, foram realizadas as análises para determinação do peso do fígado e do aspecto histopatológico, da gordura corporal e dos constituintes sanguíneos. A espirulina utilizada continha 59,65% de proteína, 3,72% de lipídios, 17,53% de resíduo mineral fixo e 7,81 de umidade, e não apresentou contaminação por microrganismos. Não houve diferenças significativas quanto à gordura corporal e constituintes protéicos séricos entre os quatro grupos de animais. Em relação ao ganho de peso não foi constatada diferença entre os grupos CC e CE, nas diferentes semanas de números 1, 5, 6, 7 e de 10 a 18, contudo esta ocorrência não foi observada nos grupos RC e RE. O peso relativo do fígado diminuiu nos animais com restrição protéica, principalmente no grupo RC, porém sem alterações histopatológicas, e os constituintes lipídios tiveram valores diminuídos. Conclui-se que o uso da Spirulina platensis na recuperação de ratos com dieta de restrição protéica reduz a lipemia.

This investigation aims at evaluating the effects of spirulin as a protein source for recovering the nutritional status of adult male rats. Forty-eight animals were studied and divided by four groups according to the feed diet: casein control (CC) group and spirulin control (SC) group, which received balanced diet during the whole experiment; recovered casein (RC) group and recovered spirulin (RS) group, which received a protein-restriction diet for 60 days and, afterwards, they were fed with balanced diet based on casein and spirulin, respectively, for 90 days. The centesimal and microbiologicalcomposition of Spirulina platensis and animals weight gains could be evaluated. After being euthanized the animal’s liver weight and its histopathologic aspects were analyzed, besides the body fat and blood components. The spirulinused contained 59.65% of protein, 3.72% of lipids, 17.53 of fixed mineral residue and 7.81% of humidity, and showed no microorganism contamination. Significant differences on body fat and serum protein contents could not be observedamong the four animal groups. Regarding the weight gains, there was no difference among the animals of groups CC and SC in different weeks of experiments numbers 1, 5, 6, 7 and from 10 to 18, but these findings were not observed among the RC and RS groups. The relative liver weight decreased in animals under protein restriction, mainly in the group RC, but no histopathological alterations could be observed, and lipid contents decreased. In conclusion, the useof Spirulina platensis for recovering rat on protein restriction diet induces a reduction of lipemia.