Altered expression of miRNA biogenesis components XPO5 and AGO2 in hippocampus of perinatal protein malnourished mice

BRUNO G. BERARDINO; LAURA BELLUSCIO; DANIELA S. CASTILLO; EDUARDO T. CÁNEPA

Huerta Grande - Córdoba

Conferencia; XXVIII Congreso Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencias; 2013

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencias

Early life stresses such as malnutrition during the critical perinatal period, which includes the development of the nervous system, modify cellular differentiation and neurogenesis programs promoting lifetime social and cognitive disturbances. However, the mechanisms linking malnutrition with cognitive and behavioral deficiencies are still unknown. This work aims to study the role of miRNAs as potential regulators involved in mentioned deficiencies caused by perinatal adversities, since they control multiple developmental processes. CF1 mice dams were fed with normal protein (NP) diet or low protein (LP, 40%) diet during pregnancy and/or lactation and the male offspring were analyzed. We observed that maternal protein restriction delayed physical growth and neurodevelopment of the offspring. Righting reflex showed significant differences while grip strength did not, suggesting that a neurological but not muscular deficit is produced. The expression of miRNA biogenesis components in the hippocampus were determined by RT-qPCR. XPO5 expression was reduced in LP mice, and the effect was more pronounced in the progeny of dams fed with LP diet only during lactation. Expression of AGO2, a component of RISC complex, showed an increase in LP mice. Both Microprocessor complex (Drosha/DGCR8) and Dicer did not change significantly their expression among groups. These results suggest a relation between transport and miRNA activity in the hippocampus and perinatal malnutrition effects.