Energy balance of pregnant diabetic rats

Abstract

Pregnancy and diabetes lead to metabolic alterations in the energy balance that may not be completely independent. The objective of the present study was to look at the alterations induced by type 1 diabetes mellitus on the energy balance of pregnant rats and the offspring. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection 15 d before the starting of pregnancy. The rats had their energy balance variables followed for 21 d. Protein, fat and energy content of dams was determined from samples of the carcasses. Pregnancy led to increased energy intake, energy gain and energy expenditure as well as higher gross food efficiency than nonpregnant counterparts. Diabetes increased metabolizable energy intake but not the energy gain of the animals: they had very high energy expenditure, so that diabetes blocked the improvement in gross food efficiency shown during pregnancy. Offspring from diabetic dams were born with lower body weight. Pregnant animals did not present the usual energy storage as seen by lower energy gain of diabetic dams as well as by the lower fat content in the carcasses of pregnant diabetic rats. It is concluded that diabetes impairs the energy variables usually enhanced by pregnancy alone.

Brief Communication: Sexual dimorphic expression of myostatin and follistatin like-3 in a rat trans-generational under-nutrition model

“…Phenotypic differences in body composition were also linked to changes in plasma metabolite concentrations, as plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were elevated in the UNAD group (mainly in females) demonstrating hyperglycaemia, compared to the two other groups. Higher blood glucose concentrations, as evident in diabetes, are known to lead to reduced body weight of offspring [15,16]. The increased plasma glucose concentrations evident in UNAD offspring could be influenced by the expression of myostatin and FSTL-3 in skeletal muscle, with limited fiber number and size potentially restricting uptake of glucose from the circulation, although further studies are needed to examine this hypothesis.…”

Effect of Birhi Vaiety of Date Palm Fruits, (Phoenix dactylifera L.) at the Tamr Stage on Serum Glucose Levels in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

“…Twelve animals were divided into two groups (6 rats/each group) and served as the normal groups. Diabetes was partially induced in rats by a single intraperitonial sterptozotocin (2-deoxy-2-{[(methylnitrosamino)carbonyl]-amino}-D-glucopyranose) (Sigma Chemicals Co., Mo, USA) injection (32.25 mg/ml freshly dissolved in 0.05 M citrate buffer, pH 4.5 at a dose of 32.25 mg/kg) (Kanarek & Ho, 1984;Yamada et al, 2002). After 24 hours, diabetes was checked by testing glucosuria of the rats using glucose urine strips (Glkotest, Rocho Germany) and by observing polydipsia and polyuria.…”