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| Author(s): |
Thaísa Meira Sandini
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ) |
| Defense date: | 2012-09-21 |
| Examining board members: |
Helenice de Souza Spinosa;
Silvana Lima Gorniak;
Tânia Marcourakis
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| Advisor: | Helenice de Souza Spinosa |
| Abstract | |
Senecio brasiliensis popularly known as \"Maria Mole\" (=lazy Mary), is a principal cause of poisoning in livestock, mainly in horses and cattle. The toxicity of this plant is caused by pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) that are metabolized by hepatic enzymes to very toxic pyrrole metabolites. In addition, these compounds can be transferred to humans through animal products or using this plant as popular medicine. There are no reports about its toxic effects on the offspring. Thus, the aim of this study was evaluate the possible toxic effects of prenatal exposure to S. brasiliensis on rat offspring. Pregnant Wistar rats received different doses of S. brasiliensis (3, 6 and 9 mg/kg, by gavage, from 6th to 20th pregnancy day. During the gestational period were evaluated the maternal weight gain and water and food intakes, as well in dams were evaluated maternal and maternal aggressive behavior. In offspring were evaluated physical and reflexologic development and, when adult, the offspring were evaluated for behavioral aspects, haematological, biochemical, anatomopathological parameters, and neurotransmitters levels. The results showed decreased a dose-dependent decrease in food intake and weight gain of dams. Dams treated with the highest S. brasiliensis dose showed impairment in maternal and maternal aggressive behavior. The offspring exposed to 6 and 9 mg/Kg of S. brasiliensis showed delay at the beginning of the physical and reflexologic development. In adult male offspring the highest dose was observed increased on open field motor activity and the frequency of entries and spent time on open arms of the elevated plus-maze. In forced swimming test was observed increase on climbing time female offspring exposed to highest dose and decrease swimming time in male offspring from 6 mg/kg and 9 mg/kg doses. On stereotypic behavior test, only the female offspring exposed to the highest dose showed increase of this behavior. The adult offspring showed few haematological and biochemical alterations, and the study histophatology demonstrated increased of hepatic multinucleated cells in animals exposed to both 6 and 9 mg/kg groups ;on the neurotransmitters levels alterations only at striatum. These results suggest that the S. brasiliensis exposure during the pregnancy cause maternal toxicity and impairment in both maternal and aggressive maternal behavior. The offspring showed damage in physical and reflexologic development, while in adulthood was observed behavioral and changes and some haematological, biochemical and anatomopathological alterations. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 10/04896-0 - Behavioral and biochemical studies of perinatal exposure to the extract from Senecio brasiliensis in rats offspring. |
| Grantee: | Thaísa Meira Sandini |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Master |