Histological Evaluation of Brain Tissue in Dyslipidemic Rats Treated with Dietary Supplements Based on Amazonian Fruits

Aims: By using histological analysis, the study aims to evaluate the effect of a nutraceutical based on the Amazonian fruits of camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) Mc Vaugh), acai (Euterpe precatoria Mart.) and guarana (Paullinia cupana) on the brain tissue (hippocampus) of dyslipidemic rats.

Methodology: Preclinical trials were conducted using male and female rats (n=30) of the Wistar strain (Rattus norvegicus) that were randomly divided into five groups (G) (n=6). G1 was control, G2 was induced to obesity with consumption of experimental feed (hypercaloric and hyperlipidic), G3 was induced to obesity with consumption of experimental feed and treated with simvastatin (50 mg/kg/day), and G4 and G5, which were induced to obesity with the consumption of experimental feed and supplemented with 100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day of the formulation, respectively. The study period was 72 days, and, for 37 days, induction to obesity was performed with the experimental feed (hypercaloric and hyperlipidic). During the following weeks, for 35 days, after division of the groups, certain groups received, in parallel, treatment with simvastatin (G3) or supplementation with the nutraceutical (G4 and G5). Subsequently, histological slides of the brain tissue stained with violet cresyl were elaborated, photographed and analyzed.

Results: No significant differences were observed between the mean of intact neurons among the experimental groups induced to obesity. The neurotoxic effect, evidenced by the significant difference between the mean of intact neurons between the control group and obesity-induced groups, corroborates the findings of neuronal damage and degenerative processes reported in the literature.

Conclusion: The nutraceutical based on Amazonian fruits was not able to prevent the neurotoxic effect arising from the hyperlipidic and hypercaloric diet, and therefore did not present a neuroprotective effect in Wistar rats under the conditions established in the experiment.