The influence of Tellurium an Folic Acid Adminitration on Coping Behaviourao Parameters in Maturing Rats: Transgenerational effects

RATTI, SILVIA; SACCHI, OSVALDO, ALVAREZ, EDGARDO

Austin Anthropology

Austin Publishing Group

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2019 vol. 3 p. 1 - 7

2324-2426

A previous study of our laboratory have shown that Tellurium (Te),a metalloid with low concentrations in soil and water in the earth, is able tomodify important behavioural parameters related to cognitive functions whenadministered orally in maturing rats. Exposition of chronic non-toxic doses ofTe affected spontaneous lateralized exploration, social interaction behaviour,and survival responses in the treated rats. Te effects were blocked by thesimultaneous administration of folic acid, a well-known methyl group donor inthe cell, suggesting an epigenetic mode of action of Te. Te behavioural effectson the second generation (F1) still were found in the next third generation(F2). In order to evaluate if these transgenerational behavioural alterations inF2 were depending on DNA methylating mechanisms, as observed in the F1generation, F1 rats were mated at 90 days of age. Two groups of animals in theF2 offspring were formed; one treated with and the other not treated with folicacid. Results showed that the untreated folic acid F2 maturing rats, conservedthe same pattern of behavioural alterations than its parents (F1), in spite thatthey were not exposed to Te. Those F2 animals treated with folic acid, insteadrecovered the normal behavioural responses in the three tests performed toevaluate coping behaviour. Results suggest that the molecular mechanism ofTe is dependent on DNA methylating reactions, which is one of the molecularprocesses of epigenetic modulation in mammals.