Effects of perinatal protein restriction on the oxidative balance in the hypothalamus of 60-day-old rats

Efeitos da restrição proteica perinatal sobre o balanço oxidativo no hipotálamo de ratos de 60 dias de idade

Objective  Evaluate the effects of maternal low-protein diet on the oxidative stress in the hypothalamus of 60-day-old rats.

Methods  Male Wistar rats were divided into two experimental groups according to the mother’s diet during pregnancy and lactation; control group (NP:17% casein n=6) and a malnourished group (LP:8% casein n=6). At 60 days of life, the rats were sacrificed for the collection of the hypothalamus for further biochemical analysis.

Results  Our results showed an increase in oxidative stress in malnourished group, observed through an increase in carbonyl content (p=0.0357), a reduction in the activity of the glutathione-S-transferase enzyme (p=0.0257), and a reduction in the non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity evidenced by the decrease in the ratio reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (p=0.0406) and total thiol levels (p=0.0166).

Conclusion  A low-protein diet during pregnancy and lactation is closely associated with increased oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant capacity in the hypothalamus of sixty-day-old rats.

Keywords
Hypothalamus; Oxidative stress; Protein-energy malnutrition