Effect of maternal dietary vitamin B6 on the modulation of gene expression in brain of rat dams and their offspring

• Grant number: 14/01288-0
• Support type: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutrition Biochemistry
• Principal researcher: Lusânia Maria Greggi Antunes
• Grantee: Mara Ribeiro de Almeida
• Supervisor abroad: Chung S. Park
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Research place: North Dakota State University (NDSU), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/20441-9 - Evaluation of the chromosomal instability and mRNA expression of genes related to neurogenesis and neurotransmitter metabolism in the offspring from dams treated with vitamin B6 deficient or supplemented diets, BP.PD

Abstract

Studies have demonstrated that the maternal undernutrition or overnutrition may be associated with increased risk of different diseases in the offsprings, such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular disorders. Vitamin B6, a water-soluble vitamin, is involved in many reactions including DNA, homocysteine and one-carbon metabolisms. Moreover, vitamin B6 plays an important role in brain development and neurotransmitter syntehsis. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of maternal vitamin B6 diet on DNA methylation and protein expression of genes related to neurogenesis and neurotransmitter metabolism in brain of the offspring. Five weeks-old female Wistar rats were fed for ten weeks with three different diets: control (6 mg vitamin B6/kg diet); supplemented (30 mg vitamin B6/kg diet) and deficient diets (0 mg vitamin B6/kg diet). Dams were euthanized at weaning and their male pups (n=6/group) were euthanized in two different periods: those offspring that were to be euthanized at 10 days of age; or those that were to be euthanized at 100 days after birth. All offspring were fed the control diet after weaning. The global DNA methylation and protein expression of neurogenin 1 (Neurog 1); netrin 1 (Ntn1); glutamate decarboxylase (Gad1); 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase (Abat) and aminoamine oxidase A (Maoa) genes will be evaluated in the hippocampus of rat dams and their offspring. The results of this study will provide further knowledge about the effects of vitamin B6 on gene expression and thus will supply more evidence about the use of this nutrient in diet. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ALMEIDA, MARA RIBEIRO; MABASA, LAWRENCE; CRANE, COURTNEY; PARK, CHUNG S.; VENANCIO, VINICIUS PAULA; PIRES BIANCHI, MARIA LOURDES; GREGGI ANTUNES, LUSANIA MARIA. Maternal vitamin B-6 deficient or supplemented diets on expression of genes related to GABAergic, serotonergic, or glutamatergic pathways in hippocampus of rat dams and their offspring. MOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH, v. 60, n. 7, p. 1615-1624, JUL 2016. Web of Science Citations: 2.