Both Food Restriction and High-Fat Diet during Gestation Induce Low Birth Weight and Altered Physical Activity in Adult Rat Offspring: The “Similarities in the Inequalities” Model

Abstract

We have previously described a theoretical model in humans, called “Similarities in the Inequalities”, in which extremely unequal social backgrounds coexist in a complex scenario promoting similar health outcomes in adulthood. Based on the potential applicability of and to further explore the “similarities in the inequalities” phenomenon, this study used a rat model to investigate the effect of different nutritional backgrounds during gestation on the willingness of offspring to engage in physical activity in adulthood. Sprague-Dawley rats were time mated and randomly allocated to one of three dietary groups: Control (Adlib), receiving standard laboratory chow ad libitum; 50% food restricted (FR), receiving 50% of the ad libitum-fed dam’s habitual intake; or high-fat diet (HF), receiving a diet containing 23% fat. The diets were provided from day 10 of pregnancy until weaning. Within 24 hours of birth, pups were cross-fostered to other dams, forming the following groups: Adlib_Adlib, FR_Adlib, and HF_Adlib. Maternal chow consumption and weight gain, and offspring birth weight, growth, physical activity (one week of free exercise in running wheels), abdominal adiposity and biochemical data were evaluated. Western blot was performed to assess D2 receptors in the dorsal striatum. The “similarities in the inequalities” effect was observed on birth weight (both FR and HF groups were smaller than the Adlib group at birth) and physical activity (both FR_Adlib and HF_Adlib groups were different from the Adlib_Adlib group, with less active males and more active females). Our findings contribute to the view that health inequalities in fetal life may program the health outcomes manifested in offspring adult life (such as altered physical activity and metabolic parameters), probably through different biological mechanisms.

Intrauterine growth restriction increases the preference for palatable foods and affects sensitivity to food rewards in male and female adult rats

“…In our study, the sex differences in the chow consumption of IUGR rats during the habituation period could be related to variations in the interpretation of new environmental cues or to a differential response to the stress of the new apparatus in males vs. females, resulting in higher chow consumption in IUGR males and lower consumption in IUGR females during this period. Interestingly, other studies from our research group had also found that FR/ Adlib males and females behave in opposite ways when placed in an environment containing a running wheel, with IUGR males showing decreased spontaneous physical activity and IUGR females showing increased activity as compared to controls (Cunha Fda et al, 2015). Thus, it appears that IUGR males and females exhibit a peculiar pattern of energy intake/expenditure when facing a novel environment.…”

“…Gestation was confirmed at day 1 by sperm-positive vaginal smears. On gestation day 10, dams were randomly allocated to a control group (Adlib), which received an ad libitum diet of standard laboratory chow (NUVILAB s ) or a 50% food restriction group (FR), which was given 50% of the intake of the ad libitum-fed dams (determined by the quantification of normal intake in a cohort of pregnant Sprague Dawley rats) (Cunha Fda et al, 2015;Desai et al, 2005). These diets were provided from gestation day 10 through to the 21st day of lactation.…”

Maternal exposure to Western diet affects adult body composition and voluntary wheel running in a genotype-specific manner in mice

“…Offspring of dams receiving a high-fat diet may have higher corticosterone levels as adults [14]. Maternal high-fat diets may also lead to increased adult leptin [9,15,16] and decreased adiponectin [15].…”

Pregnancy, Exercise and Late Effects in the Offspring until Adult Age

“…preference for wheel running versus lever pressing for food [14]. Inequalities in nutrition -food restriction and/ or high-fat diet during gestation induced reduced birth weight, and altered also the level of PA in adult offspring [11].…”

“…The effect of PA is closely interrelated with the impact of nutrition manifesting energy balance and turnover, and the effects of these relationships can be mediated and reflected also as delayed effects later in life. Changed nutrition of both, restricted and high fat diet during gestation can alter, along with low birth weight also physical activity [11].…”