Avaliação de parâmetros Bioquímicos e Comportamentais de Ratas Wistar e de suas proles submetidas à Dieta de Cafeteria

Abstract

Fetal exposure to highly palatable diet trhough maternal diet can cause, in long term, metabolic and behavioral changes in adulthood of the offspring and are associated with the development of obesity and psychiatric disorders by fetal programming mechanism. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of cafeteria diet in different stages of life on biochemical and behavioral parameters, mainly related to changes in mood and aggression in dams and their offspring. At first, adult rats were used divided into two groups: control, receiving standard chow (2.93 kcal/g), and cafeteria diet group (4.19 kcal/g e 0.42 kcal/ml). The cafeteria diet was composed of palatable foods: wafer, sandwich cookies, sausage, condensed milk and soda. The groups receiving this diet had a choice of continuous consumption of water and standard chow. The diet exposure period was 8 weeks. In a second moment (,) the evaluation of an offspring consisting only by males was initiated. From the 21st day of life these animals were fed for 8 weeks according to the type of diet of their dams and the type of diet received by them. They were divided into 4 groups: MCOPCO – mother control and offspring cafeteria; MCAFPCAF – mother cafeteria offspring cafeteria; MCAFPCO - mother cafeteria and offspring control ; MCOPCAF- mother control and offspring cafeteria. Throughout the treatment, food and water intake were monitored, as well as performing behavioral tests, heart and liver weight, visceral fat, biochemical measurements of glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, TBA, catalase, sulfhydryl, carbonyls. The cafeteria diet was able to increase food intake, liquid consumption, body weight gain, Lee index, feed efficiency and visceral fat in dams that were fed with cafeteria diet. However the cafeteria diet did not have effect on the behavioral parameters and oxidative stress evaluated. When evaluating the offspring fed with the cafeteria diet, we observed similar effects occurred in dams: increased solid and liquid intake compared to the control groups, as well as body weight, liver weight and feed efficiency. Related to behavioral changes, an increase in the number of attacks in aggressive behavior test was observed without the maternal´s diet influences. However, some parameters such as immobility time in the forced swim test and the duration of the attacks in the aggression test, visceral fat, serum glucose serum glucose besides being influenced by offspring's diet were affected by the mother's diet. The results of hepatic oxidative stress showed an increase of TBA and enzyme catalase with maternal's diet influences. Conclusion: According to the results obtained, this study shows that the cafeteria diet in intra uterine period was able to change some biochemical and behavioral parameters, emphasizing the importance of maternal diet during this period. Thus, it is suggested that, in long-term, cafeteria diet can interfere in fetal development modifying on body composition, metabolism functions and can interfere behavioral responses.