Temporal Evaluation of Body Composition, Glucose Homeostasis and Lipid Profile of Male Rats Programmed by Maternal Protein Restriction During Lactation

Abstract

Neonatal protein restriction causes lower body weight and hormonal dysfunctions in 6 months-old rats. In this model, we studied the body composition, glycogen content, serum lipid, serum protein, and hormones related to glucose homeostasis in the offspring during development. At birth, lactating rats were divided into: control dams - fed a normal diet (23% protein) and protein restricted dams - fed a diet with 8% protein. After weaning, pups received normal diet. Offspring were killed at 21, 90, and 180 days-old. Protein restricted offspring showed lower visceral fat (90th day: 14%; 180th day: 19%) and lower total fat (90th day: 16%; 180th day: 14%) that explain their lower body weight. They presented lower glycemia (180th day: 17%), lower insulinemia (21st day: 63%; 180th day: 24%), higher adiponectinemia (21st day: 169%), higher liver glycogen (21st day: 104%), and higher muscle glycogen (180th day: 106%), suggesting a higher insulin sensitivity. The higher serum corticosterone (50%), higher adrenal total catecholamines content (98%) as well as in vitro catecholamine secretion (26%) of adult protein restricted offspring, suggest a programming stimulatory effect upon adrenal gland. They also presented several biochemical changes, such as lower serum total protein, albumin and globulin (21st day: 17, 21, 12%, respectively), higher LDL-c (21st day: 69%), lower triglycerides (21st day: 42%; 90th day: 39%), and lower total cholesterol (180th day: 16%). Thus, maternal protein restriction during lactation induces an energy-protein malnutrition, characterized by an impairment of the pup's protein anabolism and, after weaning, the lower adiposity suggests lower lipogenesis and higher lipolytic activity, probably caused by catecholamine and glucocorticoid action.

Resveratrol reduces lipid peroxidation and increases sirtuin 1 expression in adult animals programed by neonatal protein restriction

“…In accordance with our previous report (Fagundes et al 2009), LPHC animals had lower glycemia and insulinemia in 180-day-old rats. These findings, together with lower I/G ratio, HOMA-IR, and HOMA-b, indicate that these animals had higher insulin sensitivity.…”

“…In recent years, it has been shown that long-term ER decreases the levels of oxidative damage to cellular macromolecules mainly by reducing the rate of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in rodents (Gredilla & Barja 2005). In contrast to chronic ER, studies in rats showed that maternal ER, during lactation only, programs the adult offspring to a higher body length and weight , while maternal protein restriction seems to protect against obesity and insulin resistance (Fagundes et al 2007(Fagundes et al , 2009.…”

The outcome of acute schistosomiasis infection in adult mice with postnatal exposure to maternal malnutrition

“…This agrees with several studies showing that early malnutrition programmes lead to the development of a thrifty phenotype (Petry et al 2000, Ozanne & Hales 2002, Plagemann 2006. Interestingly, PR mice had higher total body fat, as previously detected in PR rats of the same programming model (Fagundes et al 2007(Fagundes et al , 2009). Thus, it is possible that the lower body mass of this group is due to a loss of muscle mass.…”

“…Table I shows the composition of the diets (Reeves et al 1993). The PR diet was produced in our laboratory, using the standard commercial diet for rodents (NuvilabNuvital Nutrientes SA, PR, Brazil) by replacing parts of the protein with cornstarch (Lisboa et al 2003, de Moura et al 2007, Fagundes et al 2009). The amount of cornstarch that was added compensated for the decrease in energy content due to protein reduction.…”

HPA axis and vagus nervous function are involved in impaired insulin secretion of MSG-obese rats

“…The insulin resistance index (IRI) was calculated by the product of fasting insulin (µIU/mL) × fasting glucose (mmol/L) (Fagundes et al 2009, Lima Nda et al 2011, Li et al 2012.…”