Effect of prenatal and postnatal zinc deficiency on central nervous system and anxiety-like behaviour

MENDES GARRIDO, FACUNDO; TORRES SUAREZ, MARÍA PILAR; PEDRÓN, V; VARANI, A; MORIONDO, M; CANIFFI, CAROLINA; ELESGARAY ROSANA; GOBETTO, MARÍA N; BALERIO, GRACIELA; TOMAT, ANALÍA; ARRANZ, CRISTINA

Rosario, Santa Fe

Congreso; Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Fisiología; 2019

Sociedad Argentina de Fisiología

Introduction: Moderate zinc deficiency during fetal and postnatal life programs cardiovascular, renal and metabolic disorders in male adult rats. Zinc is an essential micronutrient that plays a key role in neurogenesis and emotional behaviour. Objective: We evaluated Central Nervous System histology and oxidative stress, and anxiety-like behaviour responses in adult male rats exposed to fetal and postnatal zinc deficiency. Methods: Female Wistar rats received during pregnancy up to weaning low (L: 8ppm) or control (C: 30ppm) zinc diet. After weaning, male L offspring fed low (l) or control (c) zinc diet during 60 days (Ll, Lc). C offspring fed control (c) diet (Cc) for 60 days. At day 81, anxiety-like behaviour was measured by the elevated plus maze (EPM) test for 15 minutes (n=11-17/group). Then animals were sacrificed and brain sections were stained with Nissl to evaluate limbic system areas (hippocampus CA3 region and amygdala) histology (n=6). Glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx) and glutathione content were measured in brain homogenates (n=6). Statistics: ANOVA, Bonferroni post-test, mean±SEM, *p