Prenatal LPS and homeophatic treatment on offspring brain development: maternal studies, biochemical, molecular and mitochondrial activity in autism animal model

• Grant number: 15/25645-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2016
• End date: March 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Teodorov
• Grantee: Elizabeth Teodorov
• Host Institution: Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição (CMCC). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: César Augusto João Ribeiro ; Cideli de Paula Coelho

Abstract

In Veterinary Medicine is still not consensus if pets may have autism. Although autism clinically diagnosed in dogs is rare, it is know that it is idiopathic disorder. Thus, dogs breeds Doberman, Pinscher and German Shepherd seem to be more susceptible to disease, presenting compulsive and repetitive behaviors (like chasing your tail, bite body blankets and parts) and this behavior appears to be linked to a common gene for obsessive compulsive trouble. Research shows that autism spectrum (as in humans) may be the result of toxins to which dams were exposed, as well as severe bacterial diseases or as unnecessary vaccination. It is also important the mitochondria role in this scenario, since this organelle is closely relate to psychiatric disorders, in most cases in neurodegenerative diseases, but no one knows the possible dysfunction in congenital neurological disorders as autism.Within the setting of diseases caused by bacterial infections it is know that the administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a constituent of bacterial cell walls, has the potential to cause sickness behavior in animals, revealed by changes in the patterns of reproductive behaviors and particularly in social interaction. In validated experimental autism model, the LPS administration in 9.5 days of pregnancy in female rats was able to autism induce in offspring's. So, are few studies that focus is a possible change in maternal environment due to the LPS administration in early pregnancy and if this administration would be enough to modulate hormonal, molecular and behavioral scenarios in mothers and offspring's. Indeed, there are not many studies showed that any treatment performed in this period could reverse the situation, particularly with regard to changes in offspring, which have obvious social disability.To answer these various questions, this project aims to use an experimental autism model validated in our laboratory to evaluate hormonal patterns and pre-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 and IL-6 (known to be involved in autism) behavioral aspects (reproductive performance, behavior maternal, social interaction of the offspring, memory tests), mitochondrial and molecular function (Shank1 involved in autism in the regions brain periaqueductal gray matter and prefrontal cortex), and concomitant treatment with Zincum metallicum the powers 5CH and 30CH could reverse possible losses on mothers and offspring. (AU)