Title : Impact of dietary salicylates on maternal-fetal outcomes in pregnant rats with L-NAME-induced preeclampsia
Abstract:
Low-dose aspirin prophylaxis is recommended for women at high risk of preeclampsia. It has been suggested that dietary salicylates may have a similar effect. This study evaluated the effect of dietary salicylates on the maternal-fetal parameters in rats treated with L-NAME (NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester).
The study involved pregnant Sprague Dawley rats divided into two groups (n=8): preeclamptic rats (CP group) and preeclamptic rats with a high dose of dietary salicylate (10 mg/kg diet) (HSP group). Preeclampsia was induced by administering L-NAME in drinking water from gestational days 6 to 19. Dietary salicylates were incorporated into the feed. A mixture of products with a relatively high salicylate content was added to the AIN-93G diet to create high-salicylate diets. The mixture consisted of 50% buckwheat groats, 10% oregano, 10% basil, 10% cumin, 10% tarragon, and 10% mint leaves. Blood pressure (systolic (Sys) and diastolic (Dia)) was measured at 18 gestational days (GD) using a non-invasive blood pressure system CODA (Kent Scientific). At 19 GD final body mass was measured, then rats were euthanised by decapitation, and tissues and blood samples were collected. Body mass, relative tissue mass, fetus, and placenta mass were measured. The number of fetuses and resorptions was counted. Morphological and biochemical parameters were assayed in blood in the certified diagnostic laboratory. Iron, zinc, and copper content in tissues were determined using flame atomic spectrometry (ZA 3000 Hitachi) after mineralization in a Microwave Digestion system (Mars 2TM System). Salicylate concentrations in diets and serum were analyzed using HPLC and UHPLC-MS/MS systems. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 13.
Dietary salicylate administration significantly increased total salicylates in serum, relative mass of liver, and cholesterol concentration in serum. The markedly higher contents of iron in the liver, zinc in the placenta, and copper in the kidney were observed in the HSP group. Intake of a high salicylate diet resulted in an increase of aspartate transaminase (AST) in serum and a lower mean number of fetuses and a higher mean number of resorptions in HSP rats compared to the CP group; however, these changes were not statistically significant. Furthermore, inflammatory parameters (TNF and hsCRP), blood pressure, and ferritin, ceruloplasmin, and SOD concentrations in serum and placenta were comparable in both groups.
In conclusion, dietary salicylates do not have the beneficial effects on maternal parameters in preeclampsia. Side effect of salicylates is observed in the liver, manifested by an increase in cholesterol concentration and elevated AST levels.
