Journal
NUTRITIONAL NEUROSCIENCE
Volume 20, Issue 5, Pages 265-272Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/1028415X.2015.1119378
Keywords
Retina; Electroretinogram; Methyl-mercury; Oxidative stress; Euterpe oleracea
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Funding
- CAPES PRO-AMAZONIA [3288/2013]
- CNPq [479089/2013-2]
- CNPq DCR Chamada [17/2013]
- CNPq fellowship
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Background: The protective effect of a diet supplemented by the Amazonian fruit Euterpe oleracea (EO) against methylmercury (MeHg) toxicity in rat retina was studied using electroretinography (ERG) and biochemical evaluation of oxidative stress. Method: Wistar rats were submitted to conventional diet or EO-enriched diet for 28 days. After that, each group received saline solution or 5 mg/kg/day of MeHg for 7 days. Full-field single flash, flash and flicker ERGs were evaluated in the following groups: control, EO, MeHg, and EO+MeHg. The amplitudes of the a-wave, b-wave, photopic negative response from rod and/or cone were measured by ERGs as well as the amplitudes and phases of the fundamental component of the sine-wave flicker ERG. Lipid peroxidation was determined by thiobarbituric acid reactive species. Results: All ERG components had decreased amplitudes in the MeHg group when compared with controls. EO-enriched food had no effect on the non-intoxicated animals. The intoxicated animals and those that received the supplemented diet presented significant amplitude reductions of the cone b-wave and of the fundamental flicker component when compared with non-intoxicated control. The protective effect of the diet on scotopic conditions was only observed for bright flashes eliciting a mixed rod and cone response. There was a significant increase of lipid peroxidation in the retina from animals exposed to MeHg and EO-supplemented diet was able to prevent MeHg-induced oxidative stress in retinal tissue. Conclusion: These findings open up perspectives for the use of diets supplemented with EO as a protective strategy against visual damage induced by MeHg.
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