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Metabolic profiles of adult Wistar rats in relation to prenatal and postnatal nutritional manipulation: The role of birthweight

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE

This experimental study aimed to prospectively investigate the impact of combinations of prenatal and postnatal food manipulations on the metabolic profile of adult offspring.

DESIGN

On day 12 of gestation, 67 timed pregnant rats were randomized into three nutritional groups, control: standard laboratory food; starved: 50% food restricted, FR; fat-fed: fat-rich diet, FF. Seven hundred and seventy-four (774) pups were born on day 21 and culled to 8 (4 males, 4 females) per litter to normalize rearing. Rats born to starved mothers were later subdivided, based on birthweight (BiW), into fetal growth restricted (FGR) and non-FGR. The pups were then weaned to the diet of their fostered mother until one year old. Thus, 12 groups were studied: 1.

CONTROL/CONTROL

14 rats, 2. CONTROL/FR: 12 rats, 3. CONTROL/FF: 15 rats, 4. FGR/CONTROL: 16 rats, 5. FGR/FR: 10 rats, 6. FGR/FF: 15 rats, 7. non-FGR/CONTROL: 10 rats, 8. non-FGR/FR: 17 rats, 9. non-FGR/FF: 10 rats, 10. FF/CONTROL: 15 rats, 11. FF/FR: 14 rats, and 12. FF/FF: 13 rats. During sacrifice, body weight (BW) and liver weight (LW) were measured (expressed in grams) and concentrations of serum glucose, triglycerides, HDL and NEFA were determined.

RESULTS

Postnatal food restriction, compared to control diet significantly reduced BW (p = 0.004, p = 0.036, p< 0.001, p = 0.008) and LW (p< 0.001) in all study groups. Postnatal control diet significantly increased BW in non-FGR compared to FGR rats (p = 0.027). No significant differences were detected in biochemical parameters (excluding NEFA) between FGR and non-FGR, regardless of the postnatal diet.

CONCLUSIONS

Interaction between prenatal and postnatal nutrition produces distinct metabolic profiles. Apart from BiW, prenatal diet had an important impact on the metabolic profile of the adult offspring, implying that intrauterine events should be considered in the estimation of the metabolic risk of an individual, independently of BiW.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Embryocare, Fetal Medicine Unit, 194 Alexandras Avenue, 10522, Athens, Greece

    Makarios Eleftheriades

  2. Childhood Obesity Clinic, First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Panagiota Pervanidou

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faghihi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Homeira Vafaei

  4. Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University Medical School, Aretaieio Hospital, Athens, Greece

    George Vaggos

  5. Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System “Th. Garofalides”, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Ismene Dontas

  6. Laboratory of Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece

    Katerina Skenderi

  7. Department of Paediatric Pathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, and UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK

    Neil J. Sebire

  8. Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, King’s College Hospital, London, UK

    Kypros Nicolaides

  9. 77 Kyprou Str, Papagou, 15669, Athens, Greece

    Makarios Eleftheriades

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  1. Makarios Eleftheriades
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  2. Panagiota Pervanidou
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  3. Homeira Vafaei
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  4. George Vaggos
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Correspondence to Makarios Eleftheriades.

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Eleftheriades, M., Pervanidou, P., Vafaei, H. et al. Metabolic profiles of adult Wistar rats in relation to prenatal and postnatal nutritional manipulation: The role of birthweight. Hormones 13, 268–279 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03401341

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03401341

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