Oligofructose supplementation during pregnancy and lactation impairs offspring development and alters the intestinal properties of 21-d-old pups

Abstract

BackgroundPreviously, we showed that the intake of trans fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation triggers a pro-inflammatory status in the offspring. On the other hand, prebiotics can alter the intestinal environment, reducing serum lipopolysaccharides (LPS) concentrations. This study evaluated the effect of the oligofructose 10% diet supplementation in the presence or absence of hydrogenated vegetable fat during pregnancy and lactation on the development, endotoxemia and bacterial composition of 21-d-old offspring.MethodsOn the first day of pregnancy rats were divided into four groups: control diet (C), control diet supplemented with 10% oligofructose (CF), diet enriched with hydrogenated vegetable fat, rich in TFA (T) or diet enriched with hydrogenated vegetable fat supplemented with 10% oligofructose (TF). Diets were maintained during pregnancy and lactation. At birth, 7th, 14th and 21th, pups were weighed and length was measured. Serum concentrations of LPS and free fatty acids (FFA) were performed by specific kits. Bacterial DNA present in faeces was determined by real-time PCR. Data were expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean and the statistical analysis was realized by ANOVA two-way and ANOVA for repeated measures. p < 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsWe observed that the oligofructose (10%) supplementation during pregnancy and lactation reduced body weight, body weight gain, length and serum FFA in the CF and TF group compared to C and T group respectively, of the 21-day-old offspring, accompanied by an increase in serum LPS and genomic DNA levels of lactobacillus spp. on faeces of the CF group in relation to C group.ConclusionIn conclusion, dam’s diet supplementation with 10% of oligofructose during pregnancy and lactation, independent of addition with hydrogenated vegetable fat, harms the offspring development, alters the bacterial composition and increases the serum concentrations of lipopolysaccharides in 21d-old pups.

Maternal Supplementation with Oligofructose (10%) during Pregnancy and Lactation Leads to Increased Pro-Inflammatory Status of the 21-D-Old Offspring

“…Although only pups from the CF group showed elevated serum endotoxemia in a previous study [ 24 ], in this study, the 21-d-old offspring of the TF group presented with higher p-NFκB p65 protein levels in the liver ( Fig 3D ) and an increased serum concentration of TNF-α ( Fig 1 ). Gene and protein expressions of TLR4 were not altered in different tissues (Figs 2A , 3A , 4A and 5A ); however it is known that the TLR4 signaling pathway includes the NF-κB activation [ 33 ], which requires the NF-κB p65 subunit phosphorylation and others post-translational modifications [ 34 ].…”

“…However, in a recent study, we showed an increased LPS serum concentration and genomic DNA levels of lactobacillus spp. in colonic feces from the CF pups, indicating that the maternal intake of a diet supplemented with 10% OF during pregnancy and lactation may lead to changes in intestinal permeability and in bacterial composition, possibly influencing endotoxemia and the LPS-stimulated inflammatory responses in the 21-d-old offspring [ 24 ]. In fact, we also observed that diet supplementation with oligofructose (10%) during pregnancy and lactation caused diarrhea in dams (CF and TF groups) and changed the maternal body weight and food intake among the four experimental groups (data not shown).…”

“…The retroperitoneal white adipose tissue (RET), liver, extensor digital longus (EDL) and soleus (SOL) muscles were isolated, immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at −80°C for the subsequent quantification of TLR4, TNFR1 (tumor necrosis factor receptor 1), IL-6R (interleukin-6 receptor), ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2 (adiponectin receptor 2) mRNA and protein expressions. To perform these analyses was necessary to pooled tissues (RET, EDL and SOL) of different male pups from the same dam, partly due to the variation in body weight of the animals among experimental groups [ 24 ].…”

“…In contrast, we previously showed that the maternal consumption of a control diet supplemented with OF (10%) during pregnancy and lactation is deleterious to offspring development and increases endotoxemia in 21-d-old pups [ 24 ]. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a dietary supplementation of 10% OF during pregnancy and lactation in the presence or absence of hydrogenated vegetable fat on the pro-inflammatory status of 21-d-old male offspring.…”

In utero sFlt-1 exposure differentially affects gene expression patterns in fetal liver

“…1 This concept is supported by many studies that have shown that malnutrition, toxins, smoking and maternal diseases during pregnancy affect the birth weight of the offspring, resulting in an aberrant response of the cardiovascular and metabolic system in later life. [2][3][4][5] Furthermore, the opposite situation of increased birth weight or macrosomia also contributes to metabolic programming and later-life morbidity, primarily via altered body composition at birth. [6][7][8] Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-associated disorder, usually complicated with fetal growth restriction and affects 3-7% 9 of the population worldwide.…”