Analysis of the effects of the psychostimulant methylphenidate hydrochloride on the biochemical composition, redox status and stimulated salivary flow rate of young adult rats

• Grant number: 23/12031-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Hernandes Chaves Neto
• Grantee: José Vitor Furuya de Lima
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Methylphenidate hydrochloride (MTF) is the psychostimulant of first choice for the treatment of children and adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. There is no consensus on its effects on the quantity and biochemical composition of saliva. Therefore, the aim of the study will be to evaluate the effect of chronic MTF treatment on the flow, biochemical composition and redox state of saliva in Wistar rats. Therefore, male Wistar rats (4 weeks) will be randomly divided into 2 groups (n=10): Control and MFT. In the MTF group, administration will occur through intragastric gavage, using a tablet macerated diluted in saline solution (Ritalin® 10 mg, Novartis, Taboão da Serra, Brazil), during a period of 28 days, at a dosage of 3 mg/ kg. The Control group will receive NaCl 0.9% (w/v). After treatment, we will collect pilocarpine-induced saliva from the animals, and then euthanasia will be performed by exsanguination, to obtain plasma, in order to measure the activities of the liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). In saliva, pH, salivary buffering capacity, total protein, salivary amylase activity, total non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity, lipid oxidative damage by the method of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), oxidative damage to proteins by carbonylation and concentrations will be analyzed. of electrolytes (calcium, phosphate, chloride, sodium and potassium) using spectrophotometric methods. The parametric data will be compared using the non-paired Student t test, the level of rejection of the null hypothesis will be set at 5% (p < 0.05).