title: Brain effects of the lectin from Canavalia ensiformis in adult rats previously suckled in favorable and unfavorable conditions: A spreading depression and microglia immunolabeling study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate in adult rats, previously suckled under favorable and unfavorable conditions, the brain electrophysiological and microglial effects of the treatment early in life with the lectin (ConA) from Canavalia ensiformis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar newborn rats (n = 89) were suckled under favorable or unfavorable conditions, represented by litters with 6-7 pups or 12-14 pups (groups N6 and N12, respectively). From postnatal days 5-24, they were treated intraperitoneally with 1 or 10 mg/kg ConA (groups L1 and L10, respectively), or with saline solution (group Sal), or no treatment (group Naïve). At 90-120 days of age, cortical spreading depression (CSD) was recorded at two parietal points for 4 hours, and CSD parameters (velocity of propagation and amplitude and duration of the DC slow potential change) were measured. Fixative-perfused brain sections were reacted with anti-Iba1 antibodies to quantify immunolabeled microglia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control groups, ConA-treated animals dose-dependently presented with reduced CSD propagation velocities and increased amplitude and duration of the CSD slow potential change. Microglia Iba-1 immunoreactivity was lower in both nutritional groups treated with ConA, in comparison with the control groups. The CSD hemisphere presented with higher immunoreactivity compared with the CSD-free hemisphere.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attenuation in CSD propagation and microglia reaction was associated in adulthood with ConA treatment during brain development, indicating that the lectin can affect the electrophysiological and microglial development, and suggesting long-lasting protective action of the lectin on the rat brain, which is not impeded by the unfavorable suckling condition.
authors.forename: Geórgia de Sousa Ferreira
authors.initials: Gde S
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Cássia Borges
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Liliane Cabral
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Cavalcanti
authors.forename: Nàdia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Villacampa
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Castellano
authors.forename: Rubem Carlos Araújo
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Guedes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001835:Body Weight; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D032449:Canavalia / Q000737:chemistry*; D013181:Cortical Spreading Depression / Q000187:drug effects; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: C100745:Aif1 protein, rat; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D037102:Lectins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Brain electrophysiology; ConA; Lectin; Microglia; Nutritional state