ALVES, Ana Paula Vilar.
Abstract:
Dyslipidemias are characterized by metabolic changes in plasma lipids, and such changes may be caused by excessive intake of high-energy foods. Fiber consumption is considered an effective therapeutic agent in the fight against dyslipidemias and chitosan is a potential fiber. The objective of this work was to evaluate the behavioral effects in dyslipidemic rats submitted to a diet with caprine sausage added with chitosan or glycosylated chitosan. Male Wistar rats, 42 days old, were divided in 4 groups, one control without induction of dyslipidemia and three experimental groups with previous induction of dyslipidemia. The experiment was carried out for 42 days, and the induction of dyslipidemia was performed in the first 14 days. After 28 days, the treatment was done with the use of caprine sausage added with chitosan or glycosylated chitosan. Finally, the Open Field and Labyrinth Cross Elevated (LCE) tests were performed. In the open field, there was a significant reduction in the amount of lifting of the dyslipidemic group (13.8 ± 2.7) in relation to the control group (24.8 ± 3.7) while the glycosylated chitosan group had a significant increase (25, 0 ± 1.9) when compared to the dyslipidemic group. In the ambulation, time of self-cleaning and defecation, no statistical differences were found. In the LCE, in the number of entries in the closed arms, the dyslipidemic group had the highest number of entries (4.1 ± 0.8) compared to the control group (1.4 ± 0.2); the chitosan group (0.4 ± 0.2) presented a significant difference in comparison to the dislipidemic group and the glycosylated chitosan group (3.5 ± 0.7). In the remaining time in the open arms, the dyslipidemic group remained longer in the arms (11.6 ± 4.1), when compared to the control group (0.9 ± 0.4), chitosan group (1.0 ± 0.6) and glycosylated chitosan group (0.6 ± 0.4). In the other parameters, no significant differences were found. Considering the results obtained, we can conclude that consumption of a diet rich in saturated fat increased anxiety in adult rats and the glycosylated chitosan reversed this effect. However, in one of the parameters, there was an anxiolytic effect in the dyslipidemic group, and it could be considered an isolated effect.