Efeito da Ingestão do Chá Branco (Camellia Sinensis (L.) Kuntze) sobre a Expressão Gênica do Sistema Vegf No Corpo Lúteo e Proliferação Celular no Endométrio de Ratas Superovuladas

Abstract

Tea is an extremely popular drink, being the second most commonly consumed in the world. People ingest teas on average two to three times a day, the majority being derived from the Camellia sinensis plant. The beneficial health effects of the consumption of tea from this plant are well known, such as the prevention of cancer, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Despite this, little is known about the action of white tea on reproduction. It is important to evaluate the possible consequences of consumption on luteal and endometrial development since the main catechin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), present in the tea influences the gene expression of VEGF in tumors and this is an important angiogenic factor in the reproductive organs. This study aimed to verify the effects of prolonged intake of white tea on the relative abundance of VEGF mRNA and its receptors, as well as in cell proliferation in the endometrium of superovulated rats. For this purpose, the rats were divided into two groups, control group (n = 30), which received water, and white tea intake group (n = 30). The ovaries and uteri were collected from 10 animals in each group at the end of every month, for three consecutive months, stored in Trizol in a freezer at -80 ° C and the relative abundance of VEGF mRNA, Flt-1 and KDR were subsequently evaluated. In addition, the uteri were histologically analyzed using the silver staining method to detect cell proliferation. The data were evaluated for the assumption of normality (Shapiro-Wilk) and statistical comparisons were performed using the unpaired t test between groups at different collection moments (p <0.05). The relative abundance of VEGF mRNA and its receptors was changed by the tea consumption and there were a lower number of nucleolar organizer regions in endometrial cells. It was concluded that prolonged consumption of white tea interferes the expression of the VEGF system genes in the corpus luteum and decreases cell proliferation in the endometrium of Wistar rats.