IMPACT OF THE ABSENCE OF MATERNAL MELATONIN ON THE MITOCHONDRIAL DYNAMIC IN SKELETAL MUSCLE OF ADULT OFFSPRING

• Grant number: 24/09403-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Patricia Monteiro Seraphim
• Grantee: Mariana Mendes Silva Reis
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Abstract: Melatonin is a natural indoleamine that has several modulating functions, including on mitochondrial homeostasis, acting as an antioxidant agent. Mitochondria are responsible for diverse cellular activities and have a dynamic balance, controlled by mitochondrial fission (Fis1 and DRP1) and fusion (MFN1, MFN2 and OPA1). Objectives: The present study aims to: 1) investigate whether the lack of melatonin in pinealectomized rats can interfere with the expression of mitochondrial proteins in their offspring in adulthood. Materials and Methods: 45 virgin Wistar rats, two months old, will be used. The animals will be separated into 3 groups: profile of pinealectomized rats (CTL), profile of pinealectomized rats (PINX), profile of pinealectomized rats and procedures for introducing melatonin during pregnancy (PINIX-MEL). Then, all animals will be allocated two female rats and one male rat for mating. At 45 days of age, Pinx and Pinx-Mel mothers will undergo a surgical procedure to remove the pineal gland and the Pinx-Mel group will receive melatonin in their drinking water for 42 days (21 days of pregnancy and 21 days of lactation). After 21 days of lactation, the male and the female offsprings will be allocated in cages during 180 days, and randomly divided into 3 groups for each gender: CLT, Pinx, Pinx-Mel After this,the offsprings will be euthanized and the gastrocnemius skeletal muscle tissue will be collected, which will be prepared for the Western blotting assay used to quantify proteins related to the mitochondrial dynamics of MFN1 and MFN2 fusion and FIS 1 and DRP1 fission.