Impact of Maternal Periconceptional Overnutrition on Fat Mass and Expression of Adipogenic and Lipogenic Genes in Visceral and Subcutaneous Fat Depots in the Postnatal Lamb

Abstract

Women entering pregnancy with a high body weight and fat mass have babies who are at increased risk of becoming overweight or obese in later life. We investigated whether maternal overnutrition in the periconceptional period results in an increased fat mass and expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes in offspring and whether dietary restriction can reverse these changes. Nonpregnant donor ewes (n = 23) were assigned to one of four groups: control-control fed at 100% maintenance energy requirements (MER) for at least 5 months, control-restricted fed 100% MER for 4 months and 70% MER for 1 month, high-high (HH) fed ad libitum (170-190% MER) for 5 months, or high-restricted (HR) fed ad libitum for 4 months and 70% MER for 1 month. Single embryos were transferred to nonobese recipient ewes, and lamb fat depots were weighed at 4 months. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, lipoprotein lipase, leptin, and adiponectin mRNA expression was measured in the lamb fat depots. Total fat mass was higher in female lambs in the HH but not HR group than controls. There was a relationship between donor ewe weight and total fat mass and G3PDH mRNA expression in perirenal fat in female lambs. There was no effect of periconceptional nutritional treatment on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, lipoprotein lipase, leptin, and adiponectin mRNA expression in any fat depot. Thus, exposure to maternal overnutrition in the periconceptional period alone results in an increased body fat mass in the offspring and that a short period of dietary restriction can reverse this effect.

Influence of birth weight and gender on lipid status and adipose tissue gene expression in lambs

“…In both the aforementioned studies, LPL was measured, but unperturbed by either birth weight or gender. In contrast, and similar to the data herein, female lambs at 4 months postnatal had higher LPL gene expression (in perirenal and subcutaneous fat depots) and higher fat mass (omental and perirenal) than males, which was largely independent of variations in maternal nutrition during the periconception period (Rattanatray et al 2010). Furthermore, the intramuscular fatty acid profile of suckling female lambs at w5 weeks postnatal was associated with upregulated LPL expression relative to males of equivalent weight, which the authors suggest predisposes females to increased adiposity (Dervishi et al 2012).…”

Metabolic effects following periconceptional alcohol exposure in rat adult offspring: modulations by a postnatal western diet

“…Animal models of PC programming have started to provide evidence of how maternal insults; preceding both implantation and conception are capable to program adult disease. These studies have mainly focused on maternal dietary modifications including: low protein diets , Kwong et al, 2000, global undernutrition (Gardner et al, 2004), increased energy intake (Rattanatray et al, 2010) and methionine deficient (MD) diets . (Kwong et al, 2000) Rat 50% of normal protein intake -8 weeks until mating Increased blood glucose levels at 94 days Increased blood cholesterol at 180 days (Joshi et al, 2003) Undernutrition Sheep 50% of normal calorie intake 0-30 days gestation…”

“…Increased body fat mass in females at 4 months of age (Rattanatray et al, 2010) Vitamin deficiency Sheep Folate, vitamin B12 and methionine deficient diet -2 months-6 days gestation when embryos were transferred to normal fed surrogate mothers…”

“…Animal models examining PC insults (often nutritional perturbations, such as under-and overnutrition, low protein diets and vitamin deficiency) demonstrate similar adult outcomes as those exposing the fetus during the entire pregnancy , Joshi et al, 2003, Jaquiery et al, 2012, Rattanatray et al, 2010. Alcohol has the ability to diffuse into the oviduct and uterus (Mitchell, 1994) and affect blastocyst development and implantation (Mitchell, 1994, Mitchell and Goldman, 1996, Cebral et al, 1999, Cebral et al, 2000.…”

“…Animal models of PC programming have started to provide evidence of how maternal insults; preceding both implantation and conception are capable to program adult disease. These studies have mainly focused on maternal dietary modifications including: low protein diets , Kwong et al, 2000, global undernutrition (Gardner et al, 2004), increased energy intake (Rattanatray et al, 2010) and methionine deficient (MD) diets . , 1997).…”