High Dietary Fat Intake during Lactation Promotes the Development of Social Stress-Induced Obesity in the Offspring of Mice

Abstract

This study examined how a maternal high-fat diet (HD) during lactation and exposure of offspring to isolation stress influence the susceptibility of offspring to the development of obesity. C57BL/6J mice were fed a commercial diet (CD) during pregnancy and a CD or HD during lactation. Male offspring were weaned at three weeks of age, fed a CD until seven weeks of age, and fed a CD or HD until 11 weeks of age. Offspring were housed alone (isolation stress) or at six per cage (ordinary circumstances). Thus, offspring were assigned to one of eight groups: dams fed a CD or HD during lactation and offspring fed a CD or HD and housed under ordinary circumstances or isolation stress. Serum corticosterone level was significantly elevated by isolation stress. High-fat feeding of offspring reduced their serum corticosterone level, which was significantly elevated by a maternal HD. A maternal HD and isolation stress had combined effects in elevating the serum corticosterone level. These findings suggest that a maternal HD during lactation enhances the stress sensitivity of offspring. White adipose tissue weights were significantly increased by a maternal HD and isolation stress and by their combination. In addition, significant adipocyte hypertrophy was induced by a maternal HD and isolation stress and exacerbated by their combination. Thus, a maternal HD and isolation stress promote visceral fat accumulation and adipocyte hypertrophy, accelerating the progression of obesity through their combined effects. The mechanism may involve enhanced fatty acid synthesis and lipid influx from blood into adipose tissue. These findings demonstrate that a maternal HD during lactation may increase the susceptibility of offspring to the development of stress-induced obesity.

Sex‐specific Alterations in Serology and the Expression of Liver FATP4 Protein in Offspring Exposed to High‐Fat Diet during Pregnancy and/or Lactation

“…Moreover, the weaning weight of offspring (3‐week‐old) increased, and lipid accumulation in the liver tissue was observed in the HF‐diet‐fed animals during lactation, consistent with a previous study (Tsuduki, Yamamoto, E, Hatakeyama, & Sakamoto, ). The accumulation of lipids in the liver suggests possible interference with mitochondrial and microsomal function leading to disruption in lipoprotein transport and fatty acid accumulation and metabolism (Khan et al, ).…”

“…Indeed, it was shown that the serum parameters that were altered by a maternal HF diet exhibited inconsistencies in male and female pups, highlighting the sexspecific feature of the response to nutrition intervention. Moreover, the weaning weight of offspring (3-week-old) increased, and lipid accumulation in the liver tissue was observed in the HF-diet-fed animals during lactation, consistent with a previous study (Tsuduki, Yamamoto, E, Hatakeyama, & Sakamoto, 2015). The accumulation of lipids in the liver suggests possible interference with mitochondrial and microsomal function leading to disruption in lipoprotein transport and fatty acid accumulation and metabolism (Khan et al, 2003).…”

Identification of Characteristic Components and Foodstuffs in Healthy Japanese Diet and the Health Effects of a Diet with Increased Use Frequency of these Foodstuffs

“…Biochemical analyses of serum and liver samples were performed as described previously. [11,12] Serum and liver triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, and serum LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), phospholipid and glucose levels were measured using commercial enzyme kits (Wako Pure Chemical, Osaka, Japan). Serum insulin was determined by ELISA (Morinaga Institute of Biological Science, Kanagawa, Japan).…”

Fermented Soybean Suppresses Visceral Fat Accumulation in Mice

“…Biochemical analyses of serum and liver samples were performed as described previously. [24,25] Serum and liver triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and serum phospholipid (PL), glucose, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels were measured using commercial enzyme kits (Wako Pure Chemical, Osaka, Japan). Serum insulin was determined using an ELISA kit (Morinaga Institute of Biological Science, Yokohama, Japan).…”