Evaluation of maternal and fetal amino acid profile and placental activity in NMRI mice infected with colon adenocarcinoma (MAC 16) feeding wint leucine-rich diet

Author(s)

Laís Rosa Viana

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia
• Defense date: 2012-02-24

Examining board members

Maria Cristina Cintra Gomes Marcondes; Dora Maria Grassi Kassisse; Gislaine Ventrucci

• Advisor: Maria Cristina Cintra Gomes Marcondes

Abstract

Pregnancy is a complex process involving several physiological steps and some clinical complications can alter the homeostasis adjustments during this process. Among the complications during pregnancy, cancer is very important for its coexistence than the incidence with this complex metabolic condition. In tumour-bearing mother, there is possible nutritional competition between foetal and tumour, resulting impaired growth and metabolic changes in both mother and foetus. The nutritional supplementation can minimize the damage caused by the tumour. Leucine acts as a cell signalling improving protein synthesis process and tissue structure. Considering cancer patients, leucine inhibits the process of proteolysis. The aim of this study was to evaluate foetal growth in association with cancer development in pregnant mice subjected to leucine-rich diet. We evaluated NMRI pregnant mice (60-90 days-old) feeding control or leucine-rich diet, bearing or not MAC16 colon adenocarcinoma and inoculated or not with active- or inactivated-ascitic fluid. Morphometric data showed decrease in the relative weight of carcass, heart, muscle and placenta in tumour-bearing groups and active-ascitic fluid injected groups. These results may be induced by tumour growth or its factors presented in ascitic fluid. In contrast, we observed increase in relative liver and spleen in tumour-bearing and both active or inactivated ascitic-fluid-inoculated groups. In groups supplemented with leucine, the muscle and placenta relative weight increased in comparison to control diet group, suggesting a possible protective effect of leucine against these tissues wasting. Biochemical data were also analyzed in maternal and foetal serum, and foetal body composition. Maternal serum showed slight decrease in serum albumin and glucose in tumour-bearing groups and also increase in gluconeogenic amino acids, such as glutamine and alanine. The foetuses resorption per female increased in all tumour-bearing groups and ascitic-fluid-inoculated dams. The foetal body water was increased in tumour-bearing animals, and also enhanced the serum pro-inflammatory cytokines and glucagon. We conclude that some effects produced by tumour growth can be similar by the ascitic fluid injection, and can be partially modulated by leucine-rich diet. Nutritional supplementation with leucine promoted beneficial effect, contributing to the maintenance and modulation of the deleterious effects caused by the presence of cancer. These effects can be related to maintenance of blood glucose and serum total protein, and reduction of fetal resorption and also improved the signalling proteins activity in placenta tissue, independent of the inoculation of the ascitic fluid (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/11982-3 - Aminoacid profile and cellular placental activity in MAC16 tumour-bearing mice submitted to leucine-rich diet
• Grantee: Laís Rosa Viana
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master