title: Diet enriched with the Amazon fruit açaí (Euterpe oleracea) prevents electrophysiological deficits and oxidative stress induced by methyl-mercury in the rat retina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The protective effect of a diet supplemented by the Amazonian fruit Euterpe oleracea (EO) against methylmercury (MeHg) toxicity in rat retina was studied using electroretinography (ERG) and biochemical evaluation of oxidative stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar rats were submitted to conventional diet or EO-enriched diet for 28 days. After that, each group received saline solution or 5 mg/kg/day of MeHg for 7 days. Full-field single flash, flash and flicker ERGs were evaluated in the following groups: control, EO, MeHg, and EO+MeHg. The amplitudes of the a-wave, b-wave, photopic negative response from rod and/or cone were measured by ERGs as well as the amplitudes and phases of the fundamental component of the sine-wave flicker ERG. Lipid peroxidation was determined by thiobarbituric acid reactive species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All ERG components had decreased amplitudes in the MeHg group when compared with controls. EO-enriched food had no effect on the non-intoxicated animals. The intoxicated animals and those that received the supplemented diet presented significant amplitude reductions of the cone b-wave and of the fundamental flicker component when compared with non-intoxicated control. The protective effect of the diet on scotopic conditions was only observed for bright flashes eliciting a mixed rod and cone response. There was a significant increase of lipid peroxidation in the retina from animals exposed to MeHg and EO-supplemented diet was able to prevent MeHg-induced oxidative stress in retinal tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings open up perspectives for the use of diets supplemented with EO as a protective strategy against visual damage induced by MeHg.
authors: a Laboratório de Neurofarmacologia Experimental, Universidade Federal do Pará , Instituto de Ciências Biológicas , Belém , Pará , Brazil.
authors: Alódia
authors: A
authors: Brasil
authors: b Laboratório de Neurofisiologia Eduardo Oswaldo Cruz, Universidade Federal do Pará , Instituto de Ciências Biológicas , Belém , Pará , Brazil.
authors: Fernando Allan de Farias
authors: FAF
authors: Rocha
authors: b Laboratório de Neurofisiologia Eduardo Oswaldo Cruz, Universidade Federal do Pará , Instituto de Ciências Biológicas , Belém , Pará , Brazil.
authors: Bruno Duarte
authors: BD
authors: Gomes
authors: a Laboratório de Neurofarmacologia Experimental, Universidade Federal do Pará , Instituto de Ciências Biológicas , Belém , Pará , Brazil.
authors: Karen Renata M
authors: KRM
authors: Oliveira
authors: a Laboratório de Neurofarmacologia Experimental, Universidade Federal do Pará , Instituto de Ciências Biológicas , Belém , Pará , Brazil.
authors: Tayana Silva
authors: TS
authors: de Carvalho
authors: a Laboratório de Neurofarmacologia Experimental, Universidade Federal do Pará , Instituto de Ciências Biológicas , Belém , Pará , Brazil.|c Universidade Federal do Pará , Núcleo de Medicina Tropical , Pará , Brazil.
authors: Evander de Jesus O
authors: EJO
authors: Batista
authors: d Federal do Pará , Instituto de Ciências da Saúde , Belém , Pará , Brazil.
authors: Rosivaldo Dos Santos
authors: RDS
authors: Borges
authors: e University Hospital Erlangen , Erlangen , Germany.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Kremers
authors: a Laboratório de Neurofarmacologia Experimental, Universidade Federal do Pará , Instituto de Ciências Biológicas , Belém , Pará , Brazil.
authors: Anderson Manoel
authors: AM
authors: Herculano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D004596:Electroretinography; D065748:Euterpe; D005638:Fruit; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds
keywords: Electroretinogram; Euterpe oleracea; Methyl-mercury; Oxidative stress; Retina