Early and persistent up-regulation of hypothalamic orexigenic peptides in rat offspring born to dams fed a high-carbohydrate supplement during gestation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Early and persistent up-regulation of hypothalamic orexigenic peptides in rat offspring born to dams fed a high-carbohydrate supplement during gestation

AU - Beck, Bernard

AU - Richy, Sébastien

AU - Archer, Zoe A

AU - Mercer, Julian G

N1 - Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PY - 2012/10/5

Y1 - 2012/10/5

N2 - Maternal diet ingested during gestation can profoundly alter production and action of hypothalamic neuropeptides involved in feeding and body weight regulation. In this study, we set out to simulate, in a rat model, modifications to feeding habit often observed in pregnant women. Gestating dams were fed a restricted normal diet with the opportunity to complete their energy requirements with either a high-fat (HF) or a high-carbohydrate (HC) diet. Growth and hypothalamic feeding peptides were measured in the offspring at 3 (weaning) and 20 weeks of age. At weaning, body weight was lower in HC pups than in HF pups or control (Ca) pups born to dams fed control diet ad libitum. Expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and AgRP mRNA in the arcuate nucleus were increased in HC pups vs Ca and HF pups. By 20 weeks of age, body weight differentials had disappeared, and there was no differences in NPY and AgRP gene expression, although POMC expression was lower in HC rats than in HF rats. NPY and orexin peptide concentrations in the paraventricular nucleus at this age were higher in HC rats than in Ca and HF rats. In HC rats, there was also a greater positive gradient of peptide concentration between the zone of release and the zone of synthesis for NPY and orexin. The early up-regulation of orexigenic peptides in HC rats may be a compensatory adjustment to low body weight. This persisting overactive orexigenic drive might have deleterious metabolic effects in an obesogenic environment at adulthood.

AB - Maternal diet ingested during gestation can profoundly alter production and action of hypothalamic neuropeptides involved in feeding and body weight regulation. In this study, we set out to simulate, in a rat model, modifications to feeding habit often observed in pregnant women. Gestating dams were fed a restricted normal diet with the opportunity to complete their energy requirements with either a high-fat (HF) or a high-carbohydrate (HC) diet. Growth and hypothalamic feeding peptides were measured in the offspring at 3 (weaning) and 20 weeks of age. At weaning, body weight was lower in HC pups than in HF pups or control (Ca) pups born to dams fed control diet ad libitum. Expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and AgRP mRNA in the arcuate nucleus were increased in HC pups vs Ca and HF pups. By 20 weeks of age, body weight differentials had disappeared, and there was no differences in NPY and AgRP gene expression, although POMC expression was lower in HC rats than in HF rats. NPY and orexin peptide concentrations in the paraventricular nucleus at this age were higher in HC rats than in Ca and HF rats. In HC rats, there was also a greater positive gradient of peptide concentration between the zone of release and the zone of synthesis for NPY and orexin. The early up-regulation of orexigenic peptides in HC rats may be a compensatory adjustment to low body weight. This persisting overactive orexigenic drive might have deleterious metabolic effects in an obesogenic environment at adulthood.

KW - neuropeptide Y

KW - orexin

KW - POMC

KW - accurate and paraventricular nuclei

KW - dietary composition

U2 - 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.08.021

DO - 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.08.021

M3 - Article

VL - 1477

SP - 10

EP - 18

JO - Brain Research

JF - Brain Research

SN - 0006-8993

ER -