Protective effects of quercetin-loaded microcapsules on the enteric nervous system of diabetic rats

• Published in: Autonomic neuroscience 2021-01, Vol.230, p.102759-102759, Article 102759
• Main Authors: Sehaber-Sierakowski, Camila Cavicchioli, Vieira-Frez, Flávia Cristina, Hermes-Uliana, Catchia, Martins, Heber Amilcar, Bossolani, Gleison Daion Piovezana, Lima, Mariana Machado, Blegniski, Fernanda Paschoal, Guarnier, Flávia Alessandra, Baracat, Marcela Maria, Perles, Juliana Vanessa Colombo Martins, Zanoni, Jacqueline Nelisis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidant; Diabetes; Enteric nervous system; Oxidative stress; Quercetin
• ISSN: 1566-0702; 1872-7484
• DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2020.102759

Quercetin-loaded microcapsules (QLM) promote controlled release and higher bioavailability of quercetin, an antioxidant and neuroprotective agent. We evaluated the antioxidant effect of QLM on enteric innervation and in the oxidative status of the ileum of diabetic rats. Wistar adult rats (Rattus norvegicus) were used in six groups containing normoglycemic (N), diabetic (D) and either normoglycemic or diabetic groups treated with QLM at a dose of 10 mg/kg (NQ10 and DQ10, respectively) or 100 mg/kg (NQ100 and DQ100, respectively). DQ10 e DQ100 did not prevent overall neuronal loss in the total and cholinergic populations. Nitrergic population showed differences regarding the treatments: DQ10 preserved neurons in the nitrergic population whilst DQ100 increased nitrergic loss. Evaluation of the redox status showed pro-oxidant effects in NQ100 by t-butyl-induced chemiluminescence analysis. We observed a reduction in the carbonylic content and an increase of low molecular weight antioxidants for DQ10 e DQ100. Therefore, QLM treatment at a dose of 10 mg/kg acted positively on nitrergic neurons reducing oxidative damage induced by diabetes. •Diabetes promotes enteric neuropathy caused by a decrease in the number of neurons in the enteric nervous system.•A treatment strategy is the use of antioxidants to promote a redox rebalancing and decrease of enteric neurons death.•Quercetin-loaded microcapsules (QLM) are an antioxidant with controlled release in gut.•This study used two doses (10 mg / kg and 100 mg / kg) of QLM for evaluating enteric neurons of diabetic rats.•QLM treatment at a dose of 10 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg in diabetic groups promoted a reduction of oxidative stress in the ileum.