Maternal polyphenol intake impairs cerebellar redox homeostasis in newborn rats

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Polyphenols are compounds found in plants that have been extensively studied due to the health benefits of its consumption in adulthood. Meanwhile, recent evidence suggests that polyphenol consumption during pregnancy may not be safe for the fetus.

Objective

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of naringenin supplementation during pregnancy on brain redox homeostasis and mitochondrial activity of the newborn rat.

Methods

Adult female Wistar rats were divided into two groups: (1) vehicle (1 mL/Kg p.o.) or (2) naringenin (50 mg/Kg p.o.). Naringenin was administered once a day during pregnancy. The offspring were euthanized on postnatal day 7, as well the dams, and brain regions were dissected.

Results

The offspring cerebellum was the most affected region, presenting increased activity of the mitochondrial electron transport system, allied to increased reactive species levels, lipid peroxidation, and glutathione concentration. The nitric oxide levels suffered structure-dependent alteration, with decreased levels in the pups’ cerebellum and increased in the hippocampus. The offspring parietal cortex was not affected, as well as the parameters evaluated in the dams’ brains.

Conclusion

Maternal consumption of naringenin alters offspring cerebellar redox homeostasis, which could be related to adverse effects on the motor and cognitive development in the descendants.

KEYWORDS:

• Flavanone
• DOHaD
• oxidative stress
• cerebellum
• pregnancy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants from Pro Reitoria de Pesquisa Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS), and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq - PQ n° 304293/2018-0).

Notes on contributors

Pauline Maciel August

Pauline Maciel August: BS, Nutrition: Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), MS and PhD, Biological Sciences – Biochemistry: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS).

Caroline Peres Klein

Caroline Peres Klein BS, Biomedicine: Universidade Feevale MS, Cellular and Molecular Biology: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) PhD in Biological Sciences – Biochemistry: UFRGS.

Mateus Grings

Mateus Grings BS, Biological Sciences: UFRGS MS and PhD in Biological Sciences – Biochemistry: UFRGS.

João Pedro Sagini

João Pedro Sagini BS, Biomedicine: UFRGS.

Patricia Idalina de Lemos Rodrigues

Patricia Idalina de Lemos Rodrigues BS, Physical Education, Universidade La Salle BS, Nutrition: UFRGS.

Daniela Pereira Stocher

Daniela Pereira Stocher BS, Nutrition: UFRGS.

Vinicius Stone

Vinicius Stone BS, Nutrition: UFRGS PhD in Biological Sciences – Biochemistry: UFRGS.

Yasmini Dandara Silva

Yasmini Dandara Silva BS, Pharmacy: UFRGS.

Pablo Ribeiro Gonçalves Couto

Pablo Ribeiro Gonçalves Couto BS, Nutrition: UFRGS.

Tiago Boeira Salomon

Tiago Boeira Salomon BS, Biological Sciences: UFRGS MS and PhD, Cellular and Molecular Biology: UFRGS.

Mara da Silveira Benfato

Mara da Silveira Benfato BS, Biological Sciences – Genetic: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) MS, Genetics and Molecular Biology: USP PhD, Biological Sciences: USP Professor of Dept. of Biophysics: UFRGS.

Guilhian Leipnitz

Guilhian Leipnitz BS, Pharmacy: UFRGS MS and PhD in Biological Sciences – Biochemistry: UFRGS Professor of Department of Biochemistry: UFRGS.

Cristiane Matté

Cristiane Matté BS, Pharmacy: UFRGS MS and PhD in Biological Sciences – Biochemistry: UFRGS Professor of Department of Biochemistry: UFRGS.