19. Lipopolysaccharide exposure reduces maternal serum Zn, Mg, Se and Mn concentrations in rats

• Published in: Brain, behavior, and immunity Vol. 32; p. e6
• Main Authors: Kirsten, T.B, Bernardes, S, Sarkis, J.E, Bernardi, M.M, Felício, L.F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01-09-2013
• Subjects: Allergy and Immunology; Psychiatry
• ISSN: 0889-1591; 1090-2139
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2013.07.031

We previously showed that prenatal lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which mimics infection by gram-negative bacteria, induces behavioral, brain and immunological changes in the offspring. Bacterial infections can also induce changes in the balance of chemical elements (e.g., metals) in our body. For example, proinflammatory cytokines liberated after LPS exposure produces metallothionein, which sequestrates zinc (Zn). Deficient or increased levels of some of those metals can be harmful and toxic to the fetus during pregnancy. Because maternal deficiency of some metals as a result of exposure to LPS may be responsible for damage in offspring, the aim of this study was to measure the concentration of some chemical elements, especially the ones involved in pregnancy and infection/inflammation. We exposed Wistar rats to LPS (100 μg/kg, intraperitoneally) or to saline (vehicle), on gestational day 9.5. 24 h after the treatment we evaluated the maternal serum Zn, magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), selenium (Se) and manganese (Mn) concentrations with a high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICPMS). Our results showed that the concentration of Zn, Mg, Se and Mn was reduced in the LPS group, when compared with their respective controls. In all cases, results were considered significant if p < 0.05. Thus, maternal LPS exposure reduced the concentration of specific chemical elements that are involved in impairments found in the offspring. FAPESP.