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Proline impairs energy metabolism in cerebral cortex of young rats

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Abstract

In the present study we investigated the effect of acute hyperprolinemia on some parameters of energy metabolism, including the activities of succinate dehydrogenase and cytocrome c oxidase and 14CO2 production from glucose and acetate in cerebral cortex of young rats. Lipid peroxidation determined by the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, as well as the influence of the antioxidants α-tocopherol plus ascorbic acid on the effects elicited by Pro on enzyme activities and on the lipid peroxidation were also evaluated. Wistar rats of 12 and 29 days of life received one subcutaneous injection of saline or proline (12.8 or 18.2 μmol/g body weight, respectively) and were sacrificed 1 h later. In another set of experiments, 5- and 22-day-old rats were pretreated for a week with daily intraperitoneal administration of α-tocopherol (40 mg/kg) plus ascorbic acid (100 mg/kg) or saline. Twelve hours after the last injection, rats received one injection of proline or saline and were sacrificed 1 h later. Results showed that acute administration of proline significantly reduced cytochrome c oxidase activity and increased succinate dehydrogenase activity and 14CO2 production in cerebral cortex, suggesting that Pro might disrupt energy metabolism in brain of young rats. In addition, proline administration increased the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances levels, which were prevented by antioxidants. These findings suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress may be important contributors to the neurological dysfunction observed in some hyperprolinemic patients and that treatment with antioxidants may be beneficial in this pathology.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by grants from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq – Brazil), FINEP Research Grant “Rede Instituto Brasileiro de Neurociência (IBN-Net)—Proc. No 01.06.0842-00”, and “Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCT) para Excitotoxicidade e Neuroproteção (INCT/CNPq)”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Neuroproteção e Doença Metabólica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600-Anexo, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Andréa G. K. Ferreira, Vanize Mackedanz, Bárbara Tagliari, Janaína Kolling, Patrícia F. Schuck, Moacir Wajner & Angela T. S. Wyse

  2. Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Comunitária Regional de Chapecó, Avenida Senador Attílio Fontana, 591-E, CEP 89809-000, Chapecó, SC, Brazil

    Daniela D. Lima

  3. Departamento de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões - Campus de Frederico Westphalen, Rua Assis Brasil, 709, CEP 98400-000, Frederico Westphalen, RS, Brazil

    Daniela D. Lima

  4. Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Centro de Ciências Exatas e Naturais, Universidade Regional de Blumenau, Rua Antônio da Veiga, 140, CEP 89012-900, Blumenau, SC, Brazil

    Débora Delwing

  5. Departamento de Bioquímica, ICBS, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600-Anexo, CEP 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Angela T. S. Wyse

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  1. Andréa G. K. Ferreira
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  9. Angela T. S. Wyse
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Correspondence to Angela T. S. Wyse.

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Ferreira, A.G.K., Lima, D.D., Delwing, D. et al. Proline impairs energy metabolism in cerebral cortex of young rats. Metab Brain Dis 25, 161–168 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-010-9193-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-010-9193-y

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