Sex differences in weight gain, blood pressure control, and responses to melanocortin-4 receptor antagonism in offspring from lean and obese parents

Abstract

We examined potential sex differences in appetite and blood pressure (BP) responses to melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) blockade in offspring from lean and obese parents. Offspring from normal (N) diet-fed parents were fed N (NN) or high fat (H) diets (NH) from weaning until adulthood. Offspring from obese H diet-fed parents were also fed N (HN) or H diets (HH). Adult male and female offspring were implanted with BP telemetry probes and intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannulae to infuse MC4R antagonist or vehicle. Infusion of the MC4R antagonist SHU-9119 (1 nmol/h) for 7 days caused larger increases in calorie intake and body weight in obese compared to lean offspring. In male offspring, HH and HN groups exhibited higher baseline BP compared to NN and NH, and HH showed greater reduction in BP during SHU-9119 infusion. In female offspring, HH also showed higher baseline BP and greater reduction in BP during MC4R blockade. SHU-9119 reduced heart rate in all groups, but reductions were more pronounced in offspring from lean parents. Combined α and β-adrenergic blockade reduced BP more in male HH offspring compared to NN controls. Losartan reduced BP more in male NH, HN and HH offspring compared to NN controls. Losartan and α and β-adrenergic blockade reduced BP similarly in all female groups. These results suggest that endogenous MC4R activity contributes to elevated BP in obese offspring from obese parents. Our findings also indicate important sex differences in the mechanisms of BP control in male and female offspring of obese parents.

Moral Education in Universities Under the Context of "Internet Plus"

“…The moral education of college students has been further developed under its promotion. At the same time, it also urges the main body of moral education to constantly strengthen their professional knowledge and the learning of network knowledge and skills to apply the learned new network technology to the work of Moral Education [4,5]. Moral educators in colleges and universities can also effectively communicate with students with the help of network communication platforms to understand and master the ideological and psychological changes of college students, timely solve the existing problems, or prevent possible problems to promote the smooth progress of moral education of college students.…”