Cytochrome c oxidase expression in embryos from diabetic rats is regulated by maternal treatments with chia oil and idebenone

SABRINA LORENA ROBERTI; ROMINA HIGA; ALICIA JAWERBAUM; MARÍA BELÉN MAZZUCCO

Buenos Aires

Congreso; Scientific Meeting of the International Assosiation of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group. Buenos Aires; 2016

IADPSG

Maternal diabetes induces an increase in embryo malformations, and oxidative stress seems to have a teratogenic role. COXIV is the last component of the electron transport chain in mitochondria. Dysfunction of this complex is associated with increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production. Chia oil is enriched in linolenic acid, an n-3 PUFA that potently activates PPARdelta, a nuclear receptor involved in developmental and antioxidant processes. Idebenone is a coenzymeQ analogue, acting both as an antioxidant and as a transporter in the electron transport chain in mitochondria. Aims: 1) To evaluate whether embryonic COXIV expression is modulated by a maternal 6% chia oil-supplemented diet in control and diabetic pregnant rats. 2) To analyze the effect of idebenone administration to control and diabetic pregnant rats on COXIV and PPARdelta expression as well as on the apoptotic rate in embryos during early organogenesis. Methods: Diabetes was induced by neonatal streptozotocin administration (90 mg/kg). Adult control and diabetic female rats were mated with healthy males. From days 0.5 to 10.5 of pregnancy rats, were treated with: 1) a diet supplemented or not with 6% chia oil, 2) idebenone (100 mg/kg) or vehicle. Embryonic expression of PPARdelta and COXIV was measured by PCR and apoptosis by TUNEL. Results: We found decreased expression of PPARdelta and COXIV (p