Efeitos do tratamento com quercetina em parâmetros de estresse oxidativo e na atividade da enzima delta-aminolevulinato desidratase em cérebro de ratos submetidos a um modelo experimental de autismo

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a disorder characterized by repetitive/stereotyped movements and difficulties in social interaction. Evidence suggests an involvement of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of ASD and treatment with antioxidant molecules may be beneficial against the symptoms of this pathology. Thus, quercetin, a flavonoid with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities may be able to reduce oxidative damage. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the preventive effects of quercetin pretreatment on behavioral, oxidative stress and delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (δ-ALA-D) activity parameters in offspring of rats submitted to an induced ASD model. valproic acid (VPA). Pregnant rats were divided into four groups: I- Saline; II- quercetin; III-VPA; IV VPA/quercetin. Quercetin (50 mg/kg) was administered orally from 6.5 days to 18.5 days of gestation. On the 12th day of gestation, the rats of groups III and IV received 800 mg/kg oral VPA. After euthanasia the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, striatum and cerebellum were used for biochemical analysis. The results showed that VPA pre-exposure led to weight reduction, increased latency during walking, reduction of social interaction time, and increase of nociceptive threshold, increase of oxidative stress indicators and reduction of antioxidant enzyme activity in structures. as well as a reduction in δ-ALA-D enzyme activity in hippocampus. Quercetin pretreatment was able to prevent such changes and modulate the activity of the δ ALA-D enzyme, suggesting that quercetin has important antioxidant and neuroprotective properties to prevent complications associated with ASD.