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Journal of Neurorestoratology 2019, 7(1): 37-46 https://doi.org/10.26599/JNR.2019.9040001
Research Article | Open Access | Issue | Published: 22 March 2019

Differential effects of zinc and tellurium on epigenetic changes of coping behaviour in maturing rats

Show Author's Information Silvia G. Ratti,  Edgardo O. Alvarez( )
Laboratorio de Neuropsicofarmacología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
Keywords:
tellurium, lateralized behaviours, epigenetic changes, zinc
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Ratti SG, Alvarez EO. Differential effects of zinc and tellurium on epigenetic changes of coping behaviour in maturing rats. Journal of Neurorestoratology, 2019, 7(1): 37-46. https://doi.org/10.26599/JNR.2019.9040001
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Abstract Full text About this article

Trace element and its probable role in biological systems have attracted the attention of many researchers in recent years. Previous work has shown that ZnTe administered in drinking water to pregnant rats during pregnancy, delivery, lactation and offspring maturation up to prepuberal stage is able to modify several parameters of spontaneous behaviours related to cognition in offspring rats. Since Zn and Te have many biological properties, it’s not possible to conclude if behavioural changes are due to Zn, Te or both trace elements activity. In the present work, K2TeO3 and ZnCl2 were used alone in order to evaluate single actions of trace elements. Four experimental groups were formed: Control (water), Zn-treated group, Te-treated groups, and Zn+Te group. At the end of the experiments at 30 days of age offspring of each group were tested individually in a Double-Hole Board Labyrinth to evaluate lateralized exploration. Open field enriched with a rack and hole-board to evaluate motivated exploration; single cage in an intruder-host test to evaluate social interaction, and forced swimming cylinder to evaluate the survival responses. Results showed selective changes in rearing for Te (first Test); blocking of the natural left-biased exploration (second Test) increased time to confront the intruder with decreased time to interact with the intruder (third Test), and decreased time to active swimming (fourth Test).

With the exception of duration of the social interaction, Zn has no effect. Results suggest that most of the behavioural changes found with ZnTe in previous studies are due to Te.


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About this article

Differential effects of zinc and tellurium on epigenetic changes of coping behaviour in maturing rats

Show Author's information Silvia G. Ratti, Edgardo O. Alvarez( )
Laboratorio de Neuropsicofarmacología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

Abstract

Trace element and its probable role in biological systems have attracted the attention of many researchers in recent years. Previous work has shown that ZnTe administered in drinking water to pregnant rats during pregnancy, delivery, lactation and offspring maturation up to prepuberal stage is able to modify several parameters of spontaneous behaviours related to cognition in offspring rats. Since Zn and Te have many biological properties, it’s not possible to conclude if behavioural changes are due to Zn, Te or both trace elements activity. In the present work, K2TeO3 and ZnCl2 were used alone in order to evaluate single actions of trace elements. Four experimental groups were formed: Control (water), Zn-treated group, Te-treated groups, and Zn+Te group. At the end of the experiments at 30 days of age offspring of each group were tested individually in a Double-Hole Board Labyrinth to evaluate lateralized exploration. Open field enriched with a rack and hole-board to evaluate motivated exploration; single cage in an intruder-host test to evaluate social interaction, and forced swimming cylinder to evaluate the survival responses. Results showed selective changes in rearing for Te (first Test); blocking of the natural left-biased exploration (second Test) increased time to confront the intruder with decreased time to interact with the intruder (third Test), and decreased time to active swimming (fourth Test).

With the exception of duration of the social interaction, Zn has no effect. Results suggest that most of the behavioural changes found with ZnTe in previous studies are due to Te.

Keywords: tellurium, lateralized behaviours, epigenetic changes, zinc

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Publication history
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Publication history

Received: 24 August 2018
Revised: 25 November 2018
Accepted: 14 January 2019
Published: 22 March 2019
Issue date: March 2019

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© The authors 2019

Acknowledgements

Present work received financial support from the Secretaría de Ciencia, Técnica y Posgrado of the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, and CIUDA (Consejo de Investigaciones de la Universidad del Aconcagua), Mendoza, Argentina.

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This article is published with open access at http://jnr.tsinghuajournals.com

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