Background/

Aims: Maternal high-fat diet(HFD) harms offspring neurodevelopment,while serotonin serves as an important neurotrophic factor during the critical period. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of neonatal supplementation of the precursor of serotonin,5-HTP associated with pyridoxine(vitamin B6) on neurodevelopmental parameters of the offspring of mothers submitted to HFD during the critical period.

Methods: Thirty-two male Wistar rat neonates born to mothers fed a control diet(CD)or high-fat diet(HFD) during gestation and lactation received oral supplementation from postnatal day(PND) 2 to 21with 5-HTP(20 mg/kg/day)+vitaminB6(50 mg/kg/day) or saline(0.9% NaCl) forming the groups: HFD5-HTP+B6(n=10),HFDSAL(n=7),CD5-HTP+B6(n=8) and CDSAL(n=7).From PND1 to 21,reflex maturation was assessed (palmar grasp(PG), righting(R),vibrissae placing(VP), cliff avoidance(CA),negative geotaxis(GN), auditory startle(AS),and free-fall righting(FR)). Cranial growth (laterolateral(ELLC) and anteroposterior(EAPC) axes)was measured from PND1 to 40.Statistical Analysis:GEE for longitudinal and GzLM for cross-sectional data.Ethics approval:UNIFESP CEUAnº4600030320.

Results: HFDSAL showed delayed maturation of VP(p<0.0001),GN(p<0.001) and FR(p<0.05)reflexes vs.CDSAL while HFD5-HTP+B6 anticipated maturation of VP and FR reflexes vs.HFDSAL(p<0.05),but delayed GN maturation vs.CD5-HTP+B6(p<0.001).The HFDSAL group showed greater ELLC growth fromPND14 to 40 compared to CDSAL(p<0.01). HFD5-HTP+B6 had reduced growth vs.CD5-HTP+B6 on PND1 and 7(p<0.01), but increased growth on PND27 and 40(p<0.05). Compared to HFDSAL, HFD5-HTP+B6 showed reduced ELLC growth fromPND1 to40(p<0.05).The HFDSAL group showed reduced EAPC vs.CDSAL on PND1(p<0.0001)and 7(p<0.01),with no differences after PND14. HFD5-HTP+B6 had lower EAPC than CD5-HTP+B6 fromPND1 to 21(p<0.0001)and on PND27 and40(p<0.05),and also lower than HFDSAL fromPND14 to 27(p<0.01).

Conclusions: Maternal HFD altered offspring cranial structure and delayed reflex maturation. Supplementation with 5-HTP and vitaminB6 attenuated the delay of two reflexes altered by HFD,but did not minimize the alterations in cranial axes.

IV FALAN Congress