Avaliação do desenvolvimento neonatal e do processo de memória dos filhotes de ratas Wistar expostas ao extrato seco de Hypericum perforatum L. durante a gestação

Abstract

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders distributed in the population and that can affect women during pregnancy. Hypericum perforatum L. extract (Hp) has been used for the treatment of mild to moderate depression with fewer side effects than allopathic antidepressants. There are few studies on its safe use during pregnancy and its interference in the exposed generation during intrauterine life. Therefore, this study aimed to study the effect of exposure Hp dry extract neonatal development and the process of learning and memory of Wistar rats' pups treated during pregnancy. Wistar rats (male and female), obtained from the animal house of the colony Reproductive Biology Center (CBR) - Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF). Pregnant Wistar rats were randomly distributed into four groups (n = 10) a control, which received filtered water, and three experimental groups that received the Hp extract in doses of 36 mg/ kg/day; 72 mg/kg/day and 144 mg/kg/day throughout gestation, intragastrically. After parturition, were randomly selected 10 young female and 10 male offspring from each experimental group. These puppies were followed in the neonatal period to assess the physical and reflexology and adulthood, underwent assessment of learning and memory. To evaluate the following neonatal development parameters were observed: eye opening, ear splitting, appearance of lanugo and hair, upper and lower incisor eruption, vaginal opening; descent of the testis; postural response, grasping reflex, cliff avoidance, orientation test and negative geotaxis. To assess memory we used the inhibitory avoidance task and the object recognition test. The project was approved by Protocol 101/2012, CEUA / UFJF. The physical and reflexology of the rats in the experimental groups occurred between the second and the thirty-seventh day of postnatal life, with no differences between groups. The data on learning and memory also showed no significant change. Therefore, the Hp did not interfere in the neonatal and cognitive development in terms of learning and memory of the rats receiving the extract during pregnancy.