Excessive salt intake is a common feature of Western dietary patterns, and has been associated with important metabolic changes including cerebral redox state imbalance. Considering that little is known about the effect on progeny of excessive salt intake during pregnancy, the present study investigated the effect of a high-salt diet during pregnancy and lactation on mitochondrial parameters and the redox state of the brains of resulting offspring. Adult female Wistar rats were divided into two dietary groups (n 20 rats/group): control standard chow (0·675 % NaCl) or high-salt chow (7·2 % NaCl), received throughout pregnancy and for 7 d after delivery. On postnatal day 7, the pups were euthanised and their cerebellum, hypothalamus, hippocampus, prefrontal and parietal cortices were dissected. Maternal high-salt diet reduced cerebellar mitochondrial mass and membrane potential, promoted an increase in reactive oxygen species allied to superoxide dismutase activation and decreased offspring cerebellar nitric oxide levels. A significant increase in hypothalamic nitric oxide levels and mitochondrial superoxide in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex was observed in the maternal high-salt group. Antioxidant enzymes were differentially modulated by oxidant increases in each brain area studied. Taken together, our results suggest that a maternal high-salt diet during pregnancy and lactation programmes the brain metabolism of offspring, favouring impaired mitochondrial function and promoting an oxidative environment; this highlights the adverse effect of high-salt intake in the health state of the offspring.

Dietary restriction increases life span and protects distinct organisms against a series of diseases, among which, those related to oxidative stress, like neurodegenerative diseases. Interferences in the maternal environment are known to reprogram the offspring metabolism response, impacting in the risk of chronic diseases development in adulthood. We aimed to assess the effects of 40% food restriction on reactive species levels, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses, and oxidative damage parameters in the cerebellum and total cerebral cortex of pregnant rats and their offspring. Dams and pups showed oxidative modulation caused by food restriction in both structures. Dichlorofluorescein oxidation, reflecting reactive species levels, was reduced in the cerebellum of dams and offspring, while the cerebral cortex was not affected. Decreased mitochondrial superoxide levels were found in the cerebellum and cerebral cortex of pups, while nitric oxide was increased in the cortex. We also measured the activities of important antioxidant enzymes responsible by reactive oxygen species elimination. Superoxide dismutase activity was increased in the cerebellum of dams and in both structures of pups, while it was decreased in dams' cerebral cortex. Both brain structures were affected concerning to catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutaredoxin activities, which were reduced in pups and dams. Non-enzymatic defenses were decreased in pups, while dams showed an adaptive pattern in the cerebellum and no alteration in the cerebral cortex. Even though the results suggest increased oxidative status, lipids and proteins were not oxidatively affected. Our data suggest that intrauterine food restriction may disrupt oxidative status, impairing the antioxidant network.

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The study of polyphenols’ effects on health has been gaining attention lately. In addition to reacting with important enzymes, altering the cell metabolism, these substances can present either positive or negative metabolic alterations depending on their consumption levels. Naringenin, a citrus flavonoid, already presents diverse metabolic effects. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of maternal naringenin supplementation during pregnancy on the tricarboxylic acid cycle activity in offspring’s cerebellum. Adult female Wistar rats were divided into two groups: (1) vehicle (1 ml/kg by oral administration (p.o.)) or (2) naringenin (50 mg/kg p.o.). The offspring were euthanised at 7th day of life, and the cerebellum was dissected to analyse citrate synthase, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (α-KGDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) activities. Molecular docking used SwissDock web server and FORECASTER Suite, and the proposed binding pose image was created on UCSF Chimera. Data were analysed by Student’s t test. Naringenin supplementation during pregnancy significantly inhibited IDH, α-KGDH and MDH activities in offspring’s cerebellum. A similar reduction was observed in vitro, using purified α-KGDH and MDH, subjected to pre-incubation with naringenin. Docking simulations demonstrated that naringenin possibly interacts with dehydrogenases in the substrate and cofactor binding sites, inhibiting their function. Naringenin administration during pregnancy may affect cerebellar development and must be evaluated with caution by pregnant women and their physicians.

ResumoLectinas são proteínas altamente expressas em leguminosas, que possuem a capacidade de reconhecer especificamente e ligar carboidratos, inclusive na membrana celular de eritrócitos. A cocção de alimentos ricos em lectinas, tais como feijão, ervilha e lentilha promovem a desnaturação das proteínas, dentre elas as lectinas, que com a estrutura nativa, perdem a capacidade de interação com as glicoproteínas presentes em membranas. Esse trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento de um protocolo de aula prática de Bioquímica, de fácil execução e resultados significativos, que permitem a demonstração das propriedades hemaglutinantes presentes na estrutura nativa de lectinas e o efeito desnaturante do calor. Diferentes formas de cocção foram utilizadas, a fim de demonstrar aos graduandos de Nutrição quais metodologias de preparo de alimentos são próprias para o consumo. Palavras-chave: Nutrição, Lectinas, Estrutura nativa de proteínas AbstractLectins are proteins highly expressed in leguminous plants, which are capable of specifically recognize and bind carbohydrates, including those found in the erythrocyte membrane. The process of cooking food rich in lectins, such as beans, peas and lentils; promote protein denaturation, losing the native structure, and consequently, the ability of carbohydrate binding. This study presents the development of a protocol for practice classes of Biochemistry, permitting an easy way to verify meaningful results, allowing the demonstration of haemagglutinating properties presented by lectins in their native structure, and lost after food thermic treatment. Different ways of cooking were used in order to demonstrate to Nutrition undergraduate students what methodologies are suitable for consumption.