RESVERATROL DOES NOT PREVENT THE INHIBITORY EFFECT OF PHENYLALANINE ON PYRUVATE KINASE ACTIVITY IN THE CEREBRAL CORTEX OF MICE 1 RESVERATROL NÃO PREVENIU O EFEITO INIBITÓRIO DA FENILALANINA SOBRE A ATIVIDADE DA PIRUVATOCINASE DE CÓRTEX CEREBRAL DE RATOS

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by the deficiency of the hepatic enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH), which leads to mental retardation in childhood by the brain’s exposure to toxic levels of phenylalanine (Phe). The neuropathological mechanisms of this disease are not fully understood. Studies show that high levels of Phe in this disease alter parameters of oxidative stress and inhibit thiol enzymes involved in involved in the transfer network of phosphoryl groups as piruvatocinase (PK) and creatine kinase (CK). Resveratrol (RSV) is an antioxidant substance and it has been studied in the treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the effects of RSV and Phe on PK activity in the cerebral cortex of mice at different incubation times (0, 30 and 60 minutes). Despite its potent antioxidant characteristic in vitro, resveratrol did not prevent the inhibition caused by Phe in the studied time intervals.