Quercetin prevents alterations of behavioral parameters, delta-aminolevulinic dehydratase activity and oxidative damage in brain of rats in a prenatal model of autism.

Quercetin prevents alterations of behavioral parameters, delta-aminolevulinic dehydratase activity and oxidative damage in brain of rats in a prenatal model of autism. Int J Dev Neurosci. 2020 Mar 17;: Authors: da Silveira de Mattos B, Soares MSP, Spohr L, Pedra NS, Teixeira FC, de Souza AA, Stefanello FM, Baldissarelli J, Gamaro GD, Spanevello RM Abstract Autism is a neuropathology characterized by behavioral disorders. Considering that oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of this disease, we evaluated the effects of quercetin, a flavonoid with antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, in an experimental model of autism induced by valproic acid (VPA). Twelve pregnant female rats were divided into four groups (control, quercetin, VPA, VPA+quercetin). Quercetin (50 mg/kg) was administered orally to the animals from gestational days 6.5 to 18.5, and VPA (800 mg/kg) was administered orally in a single dosage on gestational day 12.5. Behavioral tests such as open field, social interaction, and tail flick nociceptive assays were performed on pups between 30 and 40 days old, after which the animals were euthanized. Cerebral cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebellum were collected for evaluation of oxidative stress parameters. The pups exposed to VPA during the gestational period showed reduced weight gain, increased latency in the open field and tail flick tests, reduced time of social interaction, accompanied by chang...
Source: International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Int J Dev Neurosci Source Type: research