Effects of maternal protein malnutrition on oxidative markers in the young rat cortex and cerebellum.
Malnutrition affects a large number of children worldwide. Inadequate nutrition during pre- and postnatal period may alter brain development resulting in biochemical, physiological and anatomical changes which in turn could cause behavioral abnormalities. The impairment of the central nervous system following protein deficit have been extensively studied and this deprivation produces deleterious effects upon cerebral structures. The aim of this study was to identify oxidative parameters present in the developing brain as consequence of maternal protein malnutrition. Female Wistar rats were fed a normal protein diet (25% casein) or low protein diet (8% casein) from the time of conception up to 21 days after the parturition. In addition, the diets were supplemented or not with l-methionine. Cortex and cerebellum were removed from offspring to determine the activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and the levels of lipoperoxidation (TBARS). Our findings demonstrated heterogeneity in response to protein restriction. The levels of lipoperoxidation were increased in the cerebellum of malnourished offspring. Methionine supplementation caused an increase in lipoperoxidation in both brain structures. CAT activity was decreased in the cerebellum of the offspring supplemented with methionine whereas the cerebellum of malnourished pups with or not methionine supplementation showed a decrease in SOD activity. The activity of SOD in the cortex did not differ among groups. CAT activity, however, was increased in the cortex of malnourished pups supplemented or not with methionine. Thus, these results provide clues to the knowledge of malnutrition effects upon the brain.
Bonatto
Fernanda
F
Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo, Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, RS, Brazil. fernanda@bonatto.org
Polydoro
Manuela
M
Andrades
Michael Everton
ME
Conte da Frota
Mário Luiz
ML
Dal-Pizzol
Felipe
F
Rotta
Liane Nanci
LN
Souza
Diogo Onofre
DO
Perry
Marcos Luiz
ML
Fonseca Moreira
José Cláudio
JC
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015415:Biomarkers; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000378:metabolism*; D008715:Methionine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011247:Pregnancy; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D008715:Methionine; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase