Efeito do consumo materno de óleo de chia sobre a maturação reflexa da prole de ratos.

Abstract

The maternal diet is of paramount importance for growth, development and fetal health. During the lactation period the nutrient supply is passed from the mother to the child through the mother's milk and change in its composition can interfere negatively in the cerebral formation. In the early years of life the brain is in constant formation and development, it is at this stage that nutrients with polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 3) are essential because of the ability to incorporate into neuronal membrane phospholipids and promote brain plasticity. A great source of omega 3 is chia oil, it has good concentrations of alpha-linolenic fatty acid as well as several natural antioxidants. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of the consumption of a maternal diet enriched with chia oil on the reflex maturation in offspring of lactating rats. A total of 44 male Wistar rats were divided into three groups according to the lipid source: normolipid group Control soybean oil (CT) (n = 15) and Hyperlipic Groups Pig Lick (BP) (n = 15) and Chia oil (OC) (n = 14). To evaluate the reflex maturation, the following parameters were used: disappearance of the Palmar Hold (PP), and appearances of the following reflexes: Postural Correction (PR), Precipitation Avoidance (EP), Precipitation Avoidance by Vibrissas (EPV), Negative Geotaxia (GN), Response to Scare (RS) and Free Fall Postural Rectification (RPQL). The maximum observation time was 10 seconds from the 1st to the 21st day postpartum. The neonates of the experimental group OC presented an anticipation for the reflexes: PP, PE when statically compared with the animals of group CT (p <0.05); however, there was delay for RP, RS, EPV, GN and RPQL reflexes (p < 0.05). In the comparison between BP and OC, there was a delay for the EP and RQPL parameters (p <0.05) for this first group. However, the PP, RP indicators for the offspring of the BP group compared to the group CT (p <0.05) were anticipated. Thus, from these results we can verify the effect of chia oil over the lactation period, contributing to acceleration of the reflexes related to maturation and brain development in rats.