Impacto do óleo de avestruz sobre a memória da prole de ratas Wistar suplementadas durante o período de gestação e lactação.

Abstract

The ostrich oil has gained prominence for being rich in several Essential Fatty Acids, especially polyunsaturated chain. Among the fatty acids present in this oil there is the presence of omega 3 and omega 6, omega as well as 7 and 9. The fatty acids are structural constituents of cellular membranes and extremely important for cognitive processes, regulation of genes, which are important for the maintenance of synaptic function and plasticity. Studies have investigated the effects of fatty acids for the learning and memory. Given the presence of these omega in ostrich oil here, the study aimed to investigate the impact of the ostrich oil administered in the diet of Wistar female rats at different concentrations during pregnancy and lactation, about the facilitation of the memory of their offspring. Primiparous female from Wistar pedigree, aged 90 days, weighing 220g ± 20g were used to obtain 36 male rats. These female rats were divided into three groups: a control group (C) that received a standard diet with 7% soybean oil, a Normo Ostrich group (AN), a Hyper Ostrich group (AH) that received a standard diet modified by replacing the lipid source for Ostrich oil only varying the proportion 7% and 14% respectively, these being offered during the period of pregnancy and lactation. All diets were formulated accordding to the recommendations of the American Institute of Nutrition (AIN-93 G). After weaning, with 21 days, the litters have received Purina Essence standard feed® and were divided into three groups, standardized in 12 male puppies, the group (C), coming from the female rats that received standard diet and the groups (AN) and (AH) from the female rats that received experimental diet. To evaluate the effect of ostrich oil on learning and memory of animals, two tests were performed: the Open Field Habituation Test and the Object Recognition Test. The results verified that in the Open Field Habituation Test, only the AH group (p<0.05) showed ambulation decreased in the second exposure, indicating facilitation of the memory. In the Object Recognition Test both the AN group, and the AH group, explored more the new object compared to the familiar object (p <0.05). In the long-term memory only the AN group (p <0.05) explored longer the new object. Therefore, this study attests that a diet containing ostrich oil as lipid source in different concentrations in the period of pregnancy and lactation has a positive impact on the offspring memory.