Metabolic Effects of Access to Sucrose Drink in Female Rats and Transmission of Some Effects to Their Offspring

Abstract

The aims of this study were, first, to examine the metabolic consequences for female rats of having unrestricted access to 10% sucrose solution and, second, to test for effects of this dietary intervention on their offspring. In Stage 1 females were mated following a 4-week period in which one group was given the sucrose in addition to their normal chow and a control group was given chow and water only. Sucrose was removed at parturition and the pups monitored until weaning. Despite the development of glucose intolerance in sucrose-fed mothers, no effects were detected on litter size or pup weights. In Stage 2 voluntary activity of offspring was assessed over postnatal days (PND) 51-60 and their glucose tolerance measured at PND89-94. Again no effect of maternal diet was detected. Only male offspring were used in Stage 3, which began when they were 13 weeks old. Four groups were given 10% sucrose solution for 48 days in a 2 x 2 design, in which one factor was maternal diet and the other was whether they were given 2-h access to an activity wheel on alternate days. Higher fasting glucose levels were found in offspring of sugar-fed mothers. Exercise increased insulin sensitivity in these rats but not in offspring of control mothers. Behavioural measures of memory in Stage 3 did not reveal any effects of maternal diet or exercise. Overall, this study suggested that, while providing 10% sucrose solution ad-libitum was sufficient to impair maternal metabolism, the impact of this dietary manipulation on offspring may be revealed only when the offspring’s diet is similarly manipulated.

Source of dietary sucrose influences development of leptin resistance in male and female rats

“…This is consistent with studies in which rats were offered sucrose solution in addition to rat chow. There were no changes in basal blood glucose, but there was an increase in insulin released in response to a glucose challenge (2,12,20), which was not measured here. By contrast, it has been reported that mice fed a dry 50% sucrose diet for 55 wk had normal basal glucose and glucose clearance but improved insulin sensitivity (44).…”

High-sucrose-induced maternal obesity disrupts ovarian function and decreases fertility in Drosophila melanogaster

“…As the obesity epidemic worsens, the prevalence of maternal obesity is expected to increase, posing severe health threats not only to the mother and offspring, but to subsequent generations as well [38,39,54]. While the impact of high sucrose consumption on maternal and offspring health has been demonstrated, the molecular mechanisms by which excess sucrose contributes to maternal obesity remain unknown [16–20]. Using a Drosophila melanogaster model of maternal obesity, this study demonstrated that high sucrose consumption in adult females resulted in insulin resistance and a reproductive phenotype characterized by accumulation of TAG and cholesterol in the ovary, decreased egg production and fertility, and increased mitochondrial copy number and decreased expression of key mitochondrial regulators.…”

“…From these studies it is clear that high-fat and high-fat-high-sucrose feedings contribute to a disrupted ovarian phenotype that includes endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, intracellular lipid accumulation, and apoptosis that correlate strongly with the decreased fertilization rates, delayed offspring development, and fetal brain abnormalities also observed in these same model systems [12–15]. Despite the strong associations between excess sugar consumption and obesity and its co-morbidities, only a few studies have investigated the specific contribution of sucrose to maternal obesity and offspring health [16–23]. Moreover, to date, the role of excess sucrose consumption on the molecular features of maternal obesity remains to be explored.…”

Treadmill walking differently affects body composition and metabolic parameters of female rats from normal or small litters

“…Experimental interventions on the mothers are often reflected on their litters, but the specific transgenerational outcome depends on the intervention (e.g., physical activity protocol, food manipulation, etc.) and the parameter under assessment (7,21,26,37,38,47). It should be noted that treadmill walking in the pregnant dams from CE and SE was interrupted only during the third week of gestation and first week of lactation, so that exercise was present during critical periods of the pre-and post-natal development of the offspring (7,45).…”

“…The index of blood glucose decay (kGTT) was calculated for the interval from 30 to 120 min, similar to what is often done with ITT (26). There was no difference (p > 0.05) between the groups for this index.…”