Perturbação da homeostase hidroeletrolítica resultante à exposição experimental ao alumínio: possíveis efeitos neuroprotetores da vitamina c e Jatropha Curcas.

Abstract

The plant Jatropha curcas (JC) is known in our region as white top. Its latex is utilized in popular medicine as a treatment for infections. Recent studies of this group have demonstrated that the sap of JC has anti-inflammatory effects. Some polluting metals such as mercury or aluminum (found in the Amazon in natural effluents contaminated by craft extractions or waste from mining companies respectively) can provoke neurodegenerative disturbances resulting from oxidative stress and/or inflammation, which can compromise essential regulatory functions to the maintenance of life such as the replacement of water, the replacement of foods, and the compensatory intake of sodium chloride, essential for the maintenance of the blood volume in terrestrial mammals. Based on these facts, we tested the effects of the aqueous extract from the latex of Jatropha curcas on the intake disturbances of water and sodium in rats exposed to aluminum contamination. As such, rats were treated with aqueous extract from the sap of Jatropha curcas at 0.1%, 1%, and 10% and Vitamin C two days before experimentation and during the three days of contamination by aluminum 7.5 mg/kg. After the treatment the animals were subjected to 36 hours of suppression from water and food. Posteriorly, the intake tests were performed, comprising of a two hour partial rehydration and immediately after these two hours of intake measurement hypertonic saline solution was added to the water supply (NaCl 0.3M = NaCl 1.8%), evaluating the selective ingestion of sodium for more than one hour. The results from this research demonstrated a significant decrease in the intake of water and sodium in rats injected with aluminum + citrate. The treatment associated with Jatropha curcas 1% or Vitamin C attenuated the deficits in water and sodium intake caused by aluminum intoxication.