Prenatal exposure to integerrimine N‐oxide enriched butanolic residue from Senecio brasiliensis affects behavior and striatal neurotransmitter levels of rats in adulthood

Abstract

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are toxins that are exclusively biosynthesized by plants and are commonly present in foods and herbs. PAs are usually associated with poisoning events in livestock and human beings. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the behavioral and neurochemical effects of prenatal exposure to PA integerrimine N-oxide of rats in adulthood. Pregnant Wistar rats received integerrimine N-oxide from the butanolic residue of Senecio brasiliensis by gavage on gestational days 6-20 at doses of 3, 6 and 9 mg/kg. During adulthood of the offspring, the following behavioral tests were performed: open-field, plus-maze, forced swimming, catalepsy and stereotypy. Histological analyses and monoamine levels were measured. Male offspring from dams that were exposed to 9 mg/kg showed an increase in locomotion in the open-field test, an increased frequency of entries and time spent in open arms in elevated plus-maze test, as well as decreased swimming time. In the female offspring from dams that were exposed to 9 mg/kg, there was an increased time of climbing in forced swimming and intensity of stereotyped behavior. The histological study indicates an increase in the number of multinucleated cells in the liver (6 and 9 mg/kg). In neurotransmitter analysis, specifically in the striatum, we observed change in dopamine and serotonin levels in the middle dose. Thus, our results indicate that prenatal exposure to integerrimine N-oxide changed behavior in adulthood and neurotransmitter levels in the striatum. Our results agree with previous studies, which showed that integerrimine N-oxide impaired physical and neurobehavioral development in childhood that can persist until adulthood.

Influence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the cognitive abilities of Wistar rats

“…Animal training and testing experiments were performed during the daytime. The open-field test (13) and elevated plus-maze test (14) are well-known in behavioral physiology as objective assessments for obtaining accurate data on individual stress and researching activity. The universal problem-solving box (UPSB) of Grigor'ev et al (15) was used to analyze alterations in the finding-activity dynamics of treated animals due to the oral intake of carbon nanotubes.…”

“…The open-field test is a test with proven efficacy for the evaluation of laboratory rats in terms of judging the elements of a difficult behavioral act in moderate stress conditions (13). The emotional status of the animals can be recorded, bearing in mind that the animal is housed in new conditions, which promotes animal stress.…”

Enriched Biscuits of Ficus Capensis Modulates Neurobehavioral Performance and Antioxidant Status of L-NAME Induced Hypertensive Rats with Anxiety-Like Behaviour

“…The open eld test was conducted in a round arena with dimensions as described by Sandini et al [27]. Total distance moved, velocity recorded towards the center point, body elongation state, immobility cumulative duration (the total time in seconds without spontaneous movement) and percentage body ll was measured.…”

“…The elevated plus maze test was conducted as described by Sandini et al [27]. The apparatuscomposed of two open arms (50×10 cm) and two enclosed arms ofthe same size with 40 cm high wall arranged with a center square of 10 cm forming a plus sign.…”