Effects of a Westernized Diet on the Reflexes and Physical Maturation of Male Rat Offspring During the Perinatal Period

Abstract

This study evaluates the effects of a westernized diet during the perinatal period on the maternal performance and growth and development of rat offspring. Female Wistar rats were fed with either a control (C) diet, with casein as the protein source or a westernized (W) diet, during pregnancy and lactation. The pups were divided, eight per group, into the same diet groups as their dams. During lactation, the body weight (day 1, W = 6.85 ± 0.62 g, C = 5.81 ± 0.49, p < 0.05; day 21, W = 55.42 ± 3.78, C = 47.75 ± 3.45, p < 0.001) and somatic growth (body length day 1, W = 53.24 ± 2.16, C = 50.641 ± 1.79, p < 0.05; day 21, W = 124.8, C = 119.903 ± 3.71, p < 0.001) in the male offspring showed significant differences among the groups. The physical appearance and reflex maturation showed differences between day 1 and day 3. With the westernized diet, during the perinatal period, no alterations in maternal weight gain, gestation or performance were observed; however, changes in the coefficients of feed efficiency and energy during lactation were noted. Besides, blood glucose was found to be elevated at the end of lactation (C = 3.67 ± 0.35 mmol/l, W = 5.2 0 ± 0.49 mmol/l). At 21 days, the male pups from the dams on the westernized diet were 15 % heavier, and the maturation of the neural reflexes and physical characteristics were found to occur earlier. Therefore, the consumption of a westernized diet during the perinatal period was independent of maternal energy intake, and influenced the growth and development of offspring.

Buriti oil (Mauritia flexuosa L.) negatively impacts somatic growth and reflex maturation and increases retinol deposition in young rats

“…Church et al (2009) evaluated that consuming diets with high contents of n3 fatty acids from fish oil (7%) during pregnancy and lactation seems inadvisable due to the risks for long‐lasting adverse effects on brain development and sensory function, being considered teratogenic. However, Cavalcante et al (2013) observed that although the n3 / n6 ratio was similar between control diet (7% soybean oil) and westernized diet (14.7% of fat) consumed by rats during pregnancy and lactation, westernized diet anticipated reflex maturation.…”

“…Control (n = 12) Buriti crude oil (n = 12) Buriti refined oil (n = 12) Serum retinol (g/dL) 30. risks for long-lasting adverse effects on brain development and sensory function, being considered teratogenic. However, Cavalcante et al (2013) observed that although the n3 / n6 ratio was similar between control diet (7% soybean oil) and westernized diet (14.7% of fat) consumed by rats during pregnancy and lactation, westernized diet anticipated reflex maturation. Buriti oil (crude or refined) showed levels of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (mainly oleic acid), which are associated with a neurotrophic factor in the primary cultures of neurons (Medina and Tabernero, 2002;Mitmesser and Jensen, 2007) and promote axogenesis in the striatum region during brain development, which is related to the maturation reflex (Polo-Hernandez et al, 2010).…”

Consumption of a high‐fat diet does not potentiate the deleterious effects on lipid and protein levels and body development in rats subjected to maternal protein restriction

“…The diets were made in the Experimental Nutrition Laboratory ‐ Department of Nutrition, UFPE, according to the American Institute of Nutrition ‐ (AIN‐93) (normoprotein and low protein) and Family Budget Survey (IBGE/ Brazil, SFB 2002/2003) (high‐fat), as previously described with minor modifications. Composition of diets is presented in Table .…”

Low protein diet during gestation and lactation increases food reward seeking but does not modify sucrose taste reactivity in adult female rats

“…A semi‐analytical digital scale (Marte XL 500, class II) was used to measure body weight and food intake. Consumption was calculated as the weight of the feed offered by subtracting the weight of the feed left on the next day (Ferro Cavalcante et al, 2013).…”