Analysis of the effects of methylfenidate on markers of oxidative damage and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense of the parotid glands of young adult rats

• Grant number: 23/12875-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Hernandes Chaves Neto
• Grantee: Lauani Murakami Lopes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of the study will be to evaluate the effect of chronic use of the psychostimulant methylphenidate (MTF) on markers of oxidative damage and on the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense of the parotid glands of young adult rats. To this end, 20 male Wistar rats (4 weeks old) 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 macerate diluted in saline solution (Ritalina® 10 mg, Novartis, Taboão da Serra, Brazil), over a period of 28 days, at a dosage of 3 mg/ kg. The Control group will receive 0.9% NaCl (m/v). After treatment, the animals will be euthanized by exsanguination, to obtain plasma, in order to evaluate liver function using the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The parotid glands will be cleaned, weighed and stored at -80°C until biochemical analysis. Parotid gland homogenates will be processed for biochemical analysis using spectrophotometric assays: a) total protein content; b) lipid oxidative damage; c) protein oxidative damage; e) non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity will be evaluated by the antioxidant power of total ferric reduction, reduced glutathione and uric acid; f) enzymatic antioxidant capacity will be determined by the activities of the enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. The normality and homoscedasticity of the data will be analyzed and they will be subjected to the most appropriate parametric or non-parametric test. For all tests, the level of rejection of the null hypothesis will be set at 5% (p < 0.05).