title: A low protein diet in early life delays the onset of diabetes in the non-obese diabetic mouse.
abstract: Dietary insult in early life can affect the development and future function of the endocrine pancreas. We maintained pregnant non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice on a low protein (LP, 8% protein versus control, 20%) diet from conception until the weaning of pups at day 21. Serum insulin and pancreatic insulin content were reduced in LP-fed NOD offspring at 8 weeks, as were serum interferon gamma and pancreatic tumor necrosis factor alpha, while the number of pancreatic islets demonstrating peri-insulitis, and the degree of invasiveness were reduced. To determine if LP caused early morphometric changes in the pancreas, we measured mean islet area at days 3 and 21. Mean islet size did not differ with diet, but by 8 weeks of age LP-fed NOD females exhibited a significantly reduced islet number and mean islet area, and a lower fractional area of pancreas occupied by both alpha- and beta-cells than control-fed mice. The onset of diabetes was delayed in NOD mice of both genders fed LP diet. The mechanism is likely to involve both altered beta-cell morphology and function and changes in cytotoxic cytokines.
authors.affiliation: Lawson Health Research Institute, St Joseph's Health Care, 268 Grosvenor Street, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chamson-Reig
authors.forename: Edith J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Arany
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted; D005260:Female; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008098:Litter Size; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin