title: Maternal prenatal undernutrition alters the response of POMC neurons to energy status variation in adult male rat offspring.
abstract: Epidemiological studies suggest that maternal undernutrition predisposes the offspring to development of energy balance metabolic pathologies in adulthood. Using a model of a prenatal maternal 70% food-restricted diet (FR30) in rats, we evaluated peripheral parameters involved in nutritional regulation, as well as the hypothalamic appetite-regulatory system, in nonfasted and 48-h-fasted adult offspring. Despite comparable glycemia in both groups, mild glucose intolerance, with a defect in glucose-induced insulin secretion, was observed in FR30 animals. They also exhibited hyperleptinemia, despite similar visible fat deposits. Using semiquantitative RT-PCR, we observed no basal difference of hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) gene expression, but a decrease of the OB-Rb and an increase of insulin receptor mRNA levels, in FR30 animals. These animals also exhibited basal hypercorticosteronemia and a blunted increase of corticosterone in fasted compared with control animals. After fasting, FR30 animals showed no marked reduction of POMC mRNA levels or intensity of beta-endorphin-immunoreactive fiber projections. By contrast, NPY gene expression and immunoreactive fiber intensity increased. FR30 rats also displayed subtle alterations of food intake: body weight-related food intake was higher and light-dark phase rhythm and refeeding time course were modified after fasting. At rest, in the morning, hyperinsulinemia and a striking increase in the number of c-Fos-containing cells in the arcuate nucleus were observed. About 30% of the c-Fos-expressing cells were POMC neurons. Our data suggest that maternal undernutrition differently programs the long-term appetite-regulatory system of offspring, especially the response of POMC neurons to energy status and food intake rhythm.
authors.affiliation: Neurosciences et Physiologie Adaptatives, Université de Lille I, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France. christophe.breton@univ-lille1.fr
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Breton
authors.forename: Marie-Amélie
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lukaszewski
authors.forename: Pierre-Yves
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Risold
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enache
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guillemot
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rivière
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Delahaye
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lesage
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dutriez-Casteloot
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laborie
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vieau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001066:Appetite / Q000502:physiology; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D048070:Fetal Nutrition Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D016762:Genes, fos / Q000502:physiology; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008098:Litter Size; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000235:genetics; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000235:genetics; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D007328:Insulin; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D011972:Receptor, Insulin