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Pregnancy is a period that is characterized by several metabolic and physiological changes and requires special attention, especially with regard to the relationship between feeding and foetal development. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate whether the practice of voluntary physical exercise (VPE) in combination with chronic consumption of fructose (FRU) from the beginning of life and/or until the gestational period causes genotoxic changes in pregnant females and in their offspring. Seventy Swiss female mice received FRU in the hydration bottle and/or practiced VPE for 8 weeks (prepregnancy/pregnancy). After the lactation period, the offspring groups were separated by sex. It was observed that the consumption of FRU affected the food consumption, serum concentration of FRU, and glycemic profile in the mothers and that the VPE decreases these parameters. In addition, FRU was genotoxic in the mothers' peripheral tissues and VPE had a preventive effect on these parameters. The offspring showed changes in food consumption, serum FRU concentration, and body weight, in addition to an increase in the adiposity index in male offspring in the FRU (FRU) group and a decrease in the FRU + VPE group. FRU leads to hepatic steatosis in the offspring and VPE was able to decrease the area of steatosis. In addition, FRU led to genotoxicity in the offspring and VPE was able to modulate this effect, reducing damages. In conclusion, we observed that all interventions with VPE had nutritional, genetic, and biochemical benefits of the mother and her offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ageing process is a multifactorial phenomenon, associated with decreased physiological and cellular functions and an increased propensity for various degenerative diseases. Studies on melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine), a potent antioxidant, are gaining attention since melatonin production declines with advancing age. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of chronic melatonin consumption on genotoxic and mutagenic parameters of old Swiss mice. Herein, 3-month-old Swiss albino male mice (n = 240) were divided into eight groups and subdivided into two experiments: first (three groups): natural ageing experiment; second (five groups): animals that started water or melatonin supplementation at different ages (3, 6, 12 and 18 months) until 21 months. After 21 months, the animals from the second experiment were euthanized to perform the comet assay, micronucleus test and western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that melatonin prolonged the life span of the animals. Relative to genomic instability, melatonin was effective in reducing DNA damage caused by ageing, presenting antigenotoxic and antimutagenic activities, independently of initiation age. The group receiving melatonin for 18 months had high levels of APE1 and OGG1 repair enzymes. Conclusively, melatonin presents an efficient antioxidant mechanism aiding modulating genetic and physiological alterations due to ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]