Protective effect of Euterpe oleracea Mart (açaí) extract on programmed changes in the adult rat offspring caused by maternal protein restriction during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the effect of açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) seed extract (ASE) on cardiovascular and renal alterations in adult offspring, whose mothers were fed a low-protein (LP) diet during pregnancy.


METHODS
Four groups of rats were fed: control diet (20% protein); ASE (200 mg/kg per day); and LP (6% protein); LP + ASE (6% protein + ASE) during pregnancy. After weaning, all male offspring were fed a control diet and sacrificed at 4 months old. We evaluated the blood pressure, vascular function, serum and urinary parameters, plasma and kidney oxidative damage, and antioxidant activity and renal structural changes.


RESULTS
Hypertension and the reduced acetylcholine-induced vasodilation in the LP group were prevented by ASE. Serum levels of urea, creatinine and fractional excretion of sodium were increased in LP and reduced in LP + ASE. ASE improved nitrite levels and the superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity in LP, with a corresponding decrease of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl levels. Kidney volume and glomeruli number were reduced and glomerular volume was increased in LP. These renal alterations were prevented by ASE.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of protein-restricted dams with ASE provides protection from later-life hypertension, oxidative stress, renal functional and structural changes, probably through a vasodilator and antioxidant activity.
Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Graziele Freitas
GF
de Bem
Cristiane Aguiar
CA
da Costa
Paola Raquel Braz
PR
de Oliveira
Viviane Silva Cristino
VS
Cordeiro
Izabelle Barcellos
IB
Santos
Lenize Costa Reis Marins
LC
de Carvalho
Marcelo Augusto Vieira
MA
Souza
Dayane Texeira
DT
Ognibene
Julio Beltrame
JB
Daleprane
Pergentino José Cunha
PJ
Sousa
Angela Castro
AC
Resende
Roberto Soares
RS
de Moura
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D065748:Euterpe; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012639:Seeds; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000975:Antioxidants; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000109:Acetylcholine
Euterpe oleracea Mart.; hypertension; low protein; oxidative stress; renal failure