Efeito protetor do extrato hidroalcoólico de <i>Euterpe oleracea</i> Mart. (Açaí) nas alterações renais, cardiovasculares e metabólicas induzidas pela restrição protéica materna durante a gestação

Abstract

Some studies show that the plant <i>Euterpe oleracea</i> Mart., açaí, (ASE) is rich in polyphenols and other evidence suggests that a diet rich in polyphenols may be involved in protection against cardiovascular. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of treatment with extract ASE (200mg/Kg/day), on the renal, cardiovascular, metabolic, morphological and oxidative stress in adult offspring with sixteen weeks, whose mothers were fed a low protein diet (LP) during pregnancy. Four groups of rats were fed experimental diets: control (20% protein); control + ASE (20% protein + ASE); LP (6% protein); LP + ASE (6% protein + ASE) during pregnancy. After weaning, all pups have become fed a control diet and were sacrificed at four months of age. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured by plethysmography and vasodilator effect of acetylcholine (Ach) and nitroglycerin (NG) were studied in perfused mesenteric arterial bed (LAM). We determined the body weight, serum levels total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), albumin, urea, creatinine, glucose, insulin, insulin resistance was calculed by HOMA IR, sodium, potassium, creatinine clearance, urine volume, fractional excretion of sodium, plasma renin levels and renal glomeruli number. Oxidative damage, nitrite levels and antioxidant enzyme activity: superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were measured in plasma and homogenate of kidney. The body weight was decreased in LP group and recovered with ASE. The SBP was higher in LP animals than other groups and reversed by treatment with ASE. The plasma renin levels were increased in the LP group with ASE decreased these levels. The vasodilator response to Ach was reduced in LP group with ASE increased this response. The vasodilator effect of NG was not different between groups. The LP group was also observed increased levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, creatinine, potassium, glucose, insulin, fractional excretion of sodium; the same were reduced with ASE. There was no difference in HDL, sodium, creatinine clearance, urine volume levels in both groups. The levels of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyls were increased and nitrite levels were decreased in the LP group were reversed by ASE. The activities of antioxidant enzymes in plasma and kidney were lower in LP animal than other gruop and increased by the treatment with ASE, except for catalase which showed no significant difference between groups. Animals LP showed an reduction in the number of renal glomeruli and treatment with ASE prevent renal changes found in this model. In conclusion, ASE appers to protect the offsprings whose mother exposed to a low protein diet during pregnancy, through the anti-hypertensive, vasodilator and antioxidant activity observed in this study.