Histological and Metabolic State of Dams Suckling Small Litter or MSG-Treated Pups

Abstract

Lactation is an important function that is dependent on changes in the maternal homeostasis and sustained by histological maternal adjustments. We evaluated how offspring manipulations during the lactational phase can modulate maternal morphologic aspects in the mammary gland, adipose tissue, and pancreatic islets of lactating dams. Two different models of litter-manipulation-during-lactation were used: litter sizes, small litters (SL) or normal litters (NL) and subcutaneous injections in the puppies of monosodium glutamate (MSG), or saline (CON). SL Dams and MSG Dams presented an increase in WAT content and higher plasma levels of glucose, triglycerides, and insulin, in relation to NL Dams and CON Dams, respectively. The MG of SL Dams and MSG Dams presented a high adipocyte content and reduced alveoli development and the milk of the SL Dams presented a higher calorie and triglyceride content, compared to that of the NL Dams. SL Dams presented a reduction in islet size and greater lipid droplet accumulation in BAT, in relation to NL Dams. SL Dams and MSG Dams present similar responses to offspring manipulation during lactation, resulting in changes in metabolic parameters. These alterations were associated with higher fat accumulation in BAT and changes in milk composition only in SL Dams.

Fish oil supplementation in obese rats ameliorates metabolic syndrome response

“…Histological slides with 7-μm-thick sections were then prepared and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and analyzed by light microscopy (Carl Zeiss TM Primo Star, Germany), observing the standard morphological characteristics of the tissues. For the morphometric analyses of the adipose tissue, the slides were photomicrographed, obtaining 20 fields at 400×magnification, and the cross-sectional area of 75 adipocytes per animal was measured and the density of adipocytes per mm 2 ( 15 ) was determined (Image Pro Plus 6.0 software, USA).…”