Western diet in the perinatal period promotes dysautonomia in the offspring of adult rats

Abstract

The present study investigated the impact of a western diet during gestation and lactation on the anthropometry, serum biochemical, blood pressure and cardiovascular autonomic control on the offspring. Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups according to their mother's diet received: control group (C: 18% calories of lipids) and westernized group (W: 32% calories of lipids). After weaning both groups received standard diet. On the 60th day of life, blood samples were collected for the analysis of fasting glucose and lipidogram. Cardiovascular parameters were measured on the same period. Autonomic nervous system modulation was evaluated by spectrum analysis of heart rate (HR) and systolic arterial pressure (SAP). The W increased glycemia (123±2 v. 155±2 mg/dl), low-density lipoprotein (15±1 v. 31±2 mg/dl), triglycerides (49±1 v. 85±2 mg/dl), total cholesterol (75±2 v. 86±2 mg/dl), and decreased high-density lipoprotein (50±4 v. 38±3 mg/dl), as well as increased body mass (209±4 v. 229±6 g) than C. Furthermore, the W showed higher SAP (130±4 v. 157±2 mmHg), HR (357±10 v. 428±14 bpm), sympathetic modulation to vessels (2.3±0.56 v. 6±0.84 mmHg2) and LF/HF ratio (0.15±0.01 v. 0.7±0.2) than C. These findings suggest that a western diet during pregnancy and lactation leads to overweight associated with autonomic misbalance and hypertension in adulthood.

Effect of maternal dyslipidaemia on the cardiorespiratory physiology and biochemical parameters in male rat offspring

“…On analysing spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity, we found no differences between the groups, suggesting that baroreflex control, at least within the narrow range of the physiological variations of BP, is not altered in adult rats exposed to maternal dyslipidaemia. This result differed from another study showing a reduction in the baroreflex control in male offspring from dams fed a westernised diet ( 9 ) .…”

“…In agreement with other studies that used maternal high-fat diet as a model ( 9 ) , our study showed that male offspring exposed to maternal dyslipidaemia during pregnancy and lactation developed arterial hypertension at 90 d of age. It should be noted, however, that another study reported that offspring from dams exposed to hypercholesterolaemia during pregnancy did not exhibit hypertension in adulthood ( 38 ) .…”

“…It has been established that metabolic disorders, especially during pregnancy and early life, enhance susceptibility to the development of cardiometabolic diseases (4)(5)(6)(7) . For example, offspring from dams exposed to a high-fat diet during pregnancy exhibit hypertension and metabolic alterations in adult life (8,9) .…”

Short‐ and long‐term effects of maternal dyslipidaemia on blood pressure and baroreflex sensitivity in male rat offspring

“…The pups from DLP dams had low birth weight and low weight at 21 days of age (2) in comparison to CTL male offspring. At 30 and 90 days of age, the bodyweight of male rat offspring was similar between groups (Table 2) Under baseline conditions, the LF range of SAP, DAP, MAP and HR were similar between CTL and DLP groups (Table 3).…”

“…Nutritional insults during pregnancy and/or lactation phases increase the risk in offspring for future arterial hypertension . Maternal dyslipidaemia is a condition characterized by high levels of total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) and decreased high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) .…”