Maria José Sparça Salles

Effects of the polysaccharide β-glucan on clastogenicity and teratogenicity caused by acute exposure to cyclophosphamide in mice.

Alterations that could lead to the cancer development may also be related to an adverse development of offspring in experimental animals. Some functional foods, which contain the polysaccharide beta-glucan, have been described as being effective in the prevention of clastogenic damage. Based on that finding, the aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy of this sugar polymer in the mutagenic and teratogenic damage control. Two sets of females, pregnant and non-pregnant, were evaluated. The results indicated that beta-glucan was effective in preventing clastogenic damage in pregnant as well as non-pregnant females. In addition, pregnant females were more susceptible to mutagenic damage. However, teratogenic effects were not prevented effectively, although there was a trend toward a reduction in level of malformations. Despite beta-glucan did not prevent malformations, it increased fetal viability and reduced number of post-implantation losses and resorption, thereby enhancing reproductive performance in females.

Effects of β-glucan polysaccharide revealed by the dominant lethal assay and micronucleus assays, and reproductive performance of male mice exposed to cyclophosphamide.

β-glucan is a well-known polysaccharide for its chemopreventive effect. This study aimed to evaluate the chemopreventive ability of β-glucan in somatic and germ cells through the dominant lethal and micronucleus assays, and its influence on the reproductive performance of male mice exposed to cyclophosphamide. The results indicate that β-glucan is capable of preventing changes in DNA in both germ cells and somatic ones. Changes in germ cells were evaluated by the dominant lethal assay and showed damage reduction percentages of 46.46% and 43.79% for the doses of 100 and 150 mg/kg. For the somatic changes, evaluated by micronucleus assay in peripheral blood cells in the first week of treatment, damage reduction percentages from 80.63–116.32% were found. In the fifth and sixth weeks, the percentage ranged from 10.20–52.54% and −0.95–62.35%, respectively. Besides the chemopreventive efficiency it appears that the β-glucan, when combined with cyclophosphamide, is able to improve the reproductive performance of males verified by the significant reduction in rates of post-implantation losses and reabsorption in the mating of nulliparous females with males treated with cyclophosphamide.

Copaiba oil (Copaifera langsdorfii Desf.) on mouse reproductive patterns and embryonic or fetal development

The use of medicinal plants has always been widely spread, but today a scientific approach is needed to prove their efficiency. The present study was performed to evaluate the possible maternal toxicity and teratogenicity of copaiba oil, a resin oil exudate from the trunk of Copaifera sp., extensively used in natural medicine. Three copaiba oil levels, administered through gavage for 5 days during the gestational period of female mice, were tested: 0.3 mL Kg-1, 0.6 mL Kg-1 and 0.9 mL Kg-1 (b.w.). As regards maternal weight gain, organ weight, live fetus number, implants and fetal viability, there was no statistical difference among groups. Data indicate that this phytotherapic drug does not show maternal toxicity. Considering the means of fetal weight and length of treated groups, there was statistical difference when compared with the control group, but the fetuses were still within the appropriate weight to that pregnancy age. The offspring from treated females did not present external, visceral and skeletal alterations or malformations. The results from this study indicate that copaiba oil at the administered levels and studied period did not present maternal toxicity or cause teratogenicity to the offspring of treated females. Therefore, its use can be considered safe during pregnancy.

Investigation of possible teratogenic effects in the offspring of mice exposed to methylphenidate during pregnancy.

Methylphenidate (MPH) is a central nervous system stimulant drug that increases concentration and energy level. The safety of MPH use during pregnancy is not well established. Considering the high rate of unplanned pregnancy among young women, potential for accidental exposure to MPH in early pregnancy is high. This study aimed to investigate if MPH administered during pregnancy would induce maternotoxicity, teratogenicity in mice, or both. Pregnant Swiss mice were treated with MPH (5 mg/kg, subcutaneously) or 0.9% saline (control group) from the 5th to the 17th day of pregnancy. In the MPH-treated group, a significant increase in the total number of resorptions with a consequent increase in post-implantation loss and a decrease in fetal viability were detected (all P < 0.05). A total of 91.43% of resorptions were classified as early resorptions. The group treated with MPH presented significant external (polydactyly P < 0.01), skeletal (incomplete ossification of the skull P < 0.01) and visceral (dilated ventricles P < 0.05) malformations. Behavioural effects (motor activity, memory of habituation and anxiety) were not observed in both male and female offspring evaluated at postnatal days 22, 35 and 75. The results suggest that MPH is an embryotoxic and teratogenic drug.

Efeitos do metilfenidato sobre as glândulas salivares maternas de camundongos

Introducao O metilfenidato (MFD) e um derivado anfetaminico estimulante do sistema nervoso central, que vem sendo cada vez mais consumido pela populacao mundial, incluindo as mulheres em idade fertil. Ainda nao foram estabelecidos os efeitos deste medicamento nas glândulas salivares, durante a gestacao. Objetivo Identificar alteracoes histomorfologicas em glândulas salivares maternas expostas ao metilfenidato. Material e metodo Para analise histologica, foram utilizadas 32 femeas de camundongos Swiss prenhes, distribuidas em um grupo controle e um grupo tratado. A administracao foi realizada do quinto ao 17o dia de gestacao, via injecao subcutânea; o grupo tratado recebeu 5 mg/kg de metilfenidato, enquanto o grupo controle recebeu o mesmo volume de solucao salina esteril. As femeas foram eutanasiadas e tiveram suas glândulas salivares removidas e incluidas em parafina para analise em microscopia optica. Para avaliar a associacao entre as variaveis dos grupos, o teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov e o teste T foram utilizados. Resultado As glândulas parotidas do grupo tratado apresentaram alteracoes no raio dos ductos e na quantidade de acinos, quando comparadas as glândulas parotidas do grupo controle. A glândula submandibular do grupo tratado foi a mais afetada: mostrou diferenca estatisticamente significativa na espessura da parede dos ductos secretores, no raio dos ductos e no raio dos acinos, quando comparada a glândula submandibular do grupo controle. A glândula sublingual nao apresentou alteracoes significativas. Conclusao Neste delineamento experimental, o metilfenidato apresentou-se como agente indutor de alteracoes morfologicas das glândulas salivares, promovendo alteracoes significativas nos raios de ductos e acinos das mesmas, sendo a glândula submandibular a mais susceptivel a este farmaco.