Optimal nutrition murine model for the study of non-transmissible chronic diseases: a preliminary study

Abstract

The development of animal models ofoptimal nutrition, understood as one that acts as a protectivefactor against chronic non communicable diseases (NCDs) is anarea of interest in medical sciences. The general objective of thework was to evaluate the nutritional adequacy of experimentaldiets based on natural ingredients rich in linolenic acid w3 (ALA;C18:3) in experimental mice through multiparametricdeterminations. Thirty male mice of the Balb-c strain (28 days)from the Bioterium of the Faculty of Medicine-UNNE (CICUALMED-UNNE Res protocol No. 02/17) were used. Mice weredistributed randomly in 3 lots (10 animals each) provided withwater and food ad libitum and were fed for 70 days: LOT 1CONTROL= commercial balanced diet, LOT 2= diet B withcrushed chia seeds (Hispanic sage) and LOT 3= diet C withcrushed flax seeds (Linnum usitatissimum L). Growth indicators,biochemical parameters, histological and endogenousbioconversion of ALA were determined. The data were processedwith the Prism 6.0 software. Weights did not change significantlyamong lots. The biochemical levels of glucose, cholesterol andtriglycerides were lower in the experimental lots compared tocontrol. Histological studies with H / E and PAS stains did notreveal apparent damage to the tissues in both experimentalgroups. Diet B fed mice showed bioconversion of ALA in 6.4 ±0.32 % of eicosapentanoic acid (EPA, C 22: 5) and 22.7 ± 1.13% of docosahexanoic acid (DHA, C 22: 6) in brains. Mice fed withdiet C showed no bioconversion in EPA and 114.30 ± 5.7 % inDHA. In conclusion, diets B and C demonstrated lipid loweringand hypoglycemic properties, induced optimal nutrition withoutcausing histopathological alterations. Diet C formulated withcrushed flax seed caused the greatest bioconversion in brains ofALA in DHA. This study might contribute to obtain murineexperimental models based in dietary conditioning for the studyof NCDs.