Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WJL administration during pregnancy and lactation improves lipid profile, insulin sensitivity and gut microbiota diversity in dyslipidemic dams and protects male offspring against cardiovascular dysfunction in later life.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Maternal dyslipidemia is recognized as a risk factor for the development of arterial hypertension (AH) and cardiovascular dysfunction in offspring. Here we evaluated the effects of probiotic administration of a specific strain of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (WJL) during pregnancy and lactation on gut microbiota and metabolic profile in dams fed with a high-fat and high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet and its long-term effects on the cardiovascular function in male rat offspring. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pregnant Wistar rats were allocated into three groups: dams fed a control diet (CTL = 5), dams fed a HFHC diet (DLP = 5) and dams fed a HFHC diet and receiving L. plantarum WJL during pregnancy and lactation (DLP-LpWJL). L. plantarum WJL (1 × 109 CFU) or vehicle (NaCl, 0.9%) was administered daily by oral gavage for 6 weeks, covering the pregnancy and lactation periods. After weaning, male offspring received a standard diet up to 90 days of life. Biochemical measurements and gut microbiota were evaluated in dams. In male offspring, blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and vascular reactivity were evaluated at 90 days of age. Dams fed with a HFHC diet during pregnancy and lactation had increased lipid profile and insulin resistance and showed dysbiotic gut microbiota. Administration of L. plantarum WJL to dams having maternal dyslipidemia improved gut microbiota composition, lipid profile and insulin resistance in them. Blood pressure was augmented and vascular reactivity was impaired with a higher contractile response and a lower response to endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in DLP male offspring. In contrast, male offspring of DLP-LpWJL dams had reduced blood pressure and recovered vascular function in later life. CONCLUSION: Administration of L. plantarum WJL during pregnancy and lactation in dams improved gut microbiota diversity, reduced maternal dyslipidemia and prevented cardiovascular dysfunction in male rat offspring.

Cardiopulmonary reflex is attenuated in iron overload conscious rats.

Increased iron intake can lead to iron accumulation in serum and tissues. Its has been described that serum and tissue iron overload increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and reduce the effectiveness of the cardiovascular neural mechanisms involved in the maintenance of the arterial blood pressure whithin a narrow range of variation, therefore, iron overload may disrupt cardiovascular homeostasis contributing to physiopathological status development. In the present study we evaluated whether iron accumulated in serum or tissue of awake animals affect the cardiovascular homeostasis through changes in the cardiopulmonary reflex (CPR). We observed that the CPR is reduced in both serum and tissue iron overloaded groups, but no changes were found in the left ventricular pressure measurements, suggesting that iron-related effects are restrict to the CPR neural pathways. We also observed that the serum overloaded group presented lower basal heart rate levels, suggesting an increased parasympathetic efferent activity directed to the heart in this group. Taken together, our data suggest an important role for the iron-generated ROS to the cardiovascular homeostasis, especially regarding the CPR in awake animals.

Dietary models for inducing hypercholesterolemia in rats

Modelos animais têm sido usados para investigar a relação entre desordens no metabolismo do colesterol e a aterogênese. A estratégia utilizada a fim de induzir hipercolesterolemia (dietas com alto teor de gordura e com colesterol adicionado) leva à redução de sua ingestão pelos animais, o que induz desnutrição. O presente trabalho objetivou encontrar um modelo dietético capaz de promover a maior hipercolesterolemia, sem afetar o desenvolvimento dos animais. Sessenta ratas Fisher foram divididas em cinco grupos. O primeiro foi alimentado com uma dieta controle; os quatros restantes receberam dietas hipercolesterolêmicas, com colesterol e diferentes teores de óleo de soja, amido, caseína, micronutrientes e fibra e, conseqüentemente, diferentes valores calóricos. Após oito semanas os animais foram avaliados em relação ao crescimento, excreção fecal, peso e teor de gordura do fígado, colesterol e suas frações, parâmetros bioquímicos séricos e pressão sistólica. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos com a dieta contendo 25% de óleo de soja, 1% de colesterol, 13% de fibra e 4.538,4 Kcal/Kg, uma vez que promoveu aumento no LDL-colesterol, decréscimo no HDL-colesterol e afetou menos a função hepática dos animais.