Oxidative stress and hippocampal morphological alterations in the offspring of hyperglycemic rats
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62331/2965-758X.v4.2026.88Keywords:
Diabetes, Hippocampus, Morphology, Oxidative stressAbstract
Gestational diabetes mellitus exposes the fetus to a hyperglycemic environment, which can compromise central nervous system development, particularly the hippocampus, a structure highly susceptible to oxidative stress and morphological alterations. This study aimed to assess morphological alterations and oxidative stress markers in the hippocampus of offspring from rats subjected to maternal hyperglycemia during gestation. Wistar rats were subjected to streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia on the fifth day of gestation. Hippocampi of the offspring were harvested at 7, 30, and 90 days of age to perform morphological and biochemical analyses, including the assessment of redox balance. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. The hyperglycemic rats exhibited persistent hyperglycemia during pregnancy, without any significant difference in body mass progression compared to the control group. Their offspring exhibited a lower body mass index, persistent morphological alterations in hippocampal subfields at all ages evaluated, increased production of reactive oxygen species, reduced total antioxidant capacity, and decreased superoxide dismutase activity. Furthermore, reduced caspase-3 activation was observed at 30 and 90 days of age. In conclusion maternal hyperglycemia promotes persistent morphological alterations and impairs the antioxidant capacity of the offspring's hippocampus, demonstrating that intrauterine exposure to a hyperglycemic environment interferes with neural development and leads to lasting repercussions in adulthood.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Fernanda Naves Araújo do Prado MASCARENHAS, Maria Tereza Resende de Oliveira, Luiz Felipe Fernandes Peixoto, Rener Mateus Francisco Duarte, Natália Ferreira da Silva, Renata Roland Teixeira, Foued Salmen Espíndola, Daniele Lisboa Ribeiro, Renata Graciele Zanon
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