MATERNAL POLYPHENOL SUPPLEMENTATION AS A PREVENTIVE STRATEGY FOR PERINATAL BRAIN INJURIES

ASENSIO J; MUSCIA SAEZ, MV; GARCÍA R; SELTZER AM; VAZQUEZ PRIETO MA

Mar del Plata

Congreso; Reunión Anual de Sociedades de Biociencias; 2022

SAFIS, SAIC, SAI

Injuries to the developing nervous system during the fetal period constitute the main cause for motor and intellectual disabilities. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a condition in which a fetus fails to achieve its genetically determined growth potential and, therefore, the fetus is born with malnutrition and neurological impairment. This pathology is primarily associated with an impaired supply of nutrients and oxygen and a deteriorated antioxidant defense system. There is increasing evidence supporting that polyphenols target multiple inflammatory components and lead to anti-inflammatory mechanisms. We aim to investigate the protective effect of maternal dietary supplementation with grape pomace extract (GPE) on the consequences of IUGR. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were used as a model of IUGR and Wistar Kyoto were used as normotensive controls. Female rats (6 rat/group) were fed during 12 w either: control diet (SHR) or control diet supplemented with 300 mg GPE/kg body weight (SHR+GPE). GPE was administered 6 w prior, during and 3 w after pregnancy. Pups were evaluated from week 9 to 12 for physical, neurological and motor milestones through a battery of tests. Our results indicate that SHR pups born from GPE-fed mothers presented an improvement in weight curve compared to SHR control pups. Eye opening, ear unfolding and auditory startle milestones appeared earlier in SHR+GPE pups compared to SHR. In addition, systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed a significant decrease in SHR+GPE pups at 35 postnatal days. Overall, maternal dietary intervention with bioactive compounds could be a promising strategy for the prevention of perinatal brain injuries and the developmental delay observed in SHR pups.