title: Altered body composition and metabolism in the male offspring of high fat-fed rats.
abstract: An intrauterine environment may play a role in predisposing a developing fetus to metabolic diseases during adulthood. We investigated the hypothesis that a maternal diet high in omega-6 polyunsaturated fat can modify the programming of an offspring's glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, body composition, lipid metabolism, and insulin signaling. High omega-6 polyunsaturated fat diets were fed to female rats 4 weeks before mating and throughout the gestation period. The offspring were maintained on chow diet. At 3 months of age, indirect calorimetry, oral glucose tolerance tests, and dual x-ray absorptiometry measurements were performed. Triglyceride content and beta-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase activity were determined in the liver and quadriceps muscle. Expression levels of key insulin signaling pathway proteins were measured in the liver and quadriceps muscle of the 3-month-old offspring. Offspring from the fat-fed dams had significantly increased proportions of both total body fat and abdominal fat. All offspring displayed normal insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance, although the offspring from the fat-fed dams were significantly more hyperinsulinemic 15 minutes after an oral glucose challenge. Whole body fuel oxidation was not altered. The offspring of fat-fed dams had significantly elevated liver triglyceride content. Insulin signaling protein expression levels in the offspring of fat-fed dams were consistent with reduced hepatic insulin sensitivity but increased quadriceps insulin sensitivity. A maternal diet high in omega-6 polyunsaturated fat evokes programming within the metabolic processes of the offspring that may predispose the offspring to the development of metabolic diseases.
authors.affiliation: School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia. a.buckley@auckland.ac.nz
authors.forename: Alexandra J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keserü
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Briody
authors.forename: Madeline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ozanne
authors.forename: Campbell H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D015094:3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007700:Kinetics; D008098:Litter Size; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008660:Metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D015094:3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases