Naringin supplementation during pregnancy reduces mitochondrial function and modifies redox network system in offspring's cerebellum and striatum

Consumption of polyphenol-rich diets is known to improve brain's redox homeostasis parameters and cognitive function, however, little is known about the effects of polyphenols consumption during pregnancy in offspring's brain. Moreover, we sought to evaluate the effects of maternal supplementation with naringin during pregnancy in offspring's cerebellum and striatum. Naringin was supplemented by oral gavage (100 mg/kg) from the first to the last day of pregnancy. On postnatal day one, offspring's brain was collected and evaluated. The protocol was approved by an ethical commission under the n° 31397. Maternal naringin supplementation decreased offspring's mitochondrial electron transport system (METS) activity in cerebellum, along with increased levels of reduced glutathione. Moreover, the METS activity was also reduced in offspring's striatum, accompanying a tendency of increased levels of nitric oxide and dichlorofluorescein oxidation. Concerning other redox network components, we also observed increased catalase activity and a tendency of increased glutathione peroxidase activity in striatum. Maternal naringin supplementation disrupted offspring's cerebellum and striatum redox network, which might have been triggered by a specific negative adaptive response of each brain region evaluated in this work.