Metabolic programming of ovarian angiogenesis and folliculogenesis by maternal malnutrition during lactation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether maternal malnutrition during lactation programs ovarian folliculogenesis and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and its receptors KDR, Flt-1, and FGFR.


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
University-based research laboratory.


METHODS
Adult female rats from a urogenital research laboratory.


METHODS
Six rat dams randomly assigned to the following groups: control group (C), with free access to a standard laboratory diet containing 23% protein; and a protein-energy-restricted group (PER), with free access to an isoenergy and protein-restricted diet containing 8% protein. After weaning, the female pups had free access to the standard laboratory diet until 90 days of age, when they were sacrificed at the proestrum stage.


METHODS
Quantification of ovarian follicles, vessels, and expression of growth factors and their receptors.


RESULTS
Maternal malnutrition during lactation caused a significant reduction in the number of primordial (C = 6.60 +/- 0.24, PER = 5.20 +/- 0.20), primary (C = 5.80 +/- 0.66, PER = 4.00 +/- 0.31), and Graafian follicles/section (C = 2.18 +/- 0.29, PER = 1.08 +/- 0.37), in KDR (C = 0.22 +/- 0.04, PER = 0.09 +/- 0.01), Flt-1 (C = 0.28 +/- 0.05, PER = 0.12 +/- 0.02), and FGFR mRNA expression (C = 0.34 +/- 0.05, PER = 0.13 +/- 0.05) and in the vessel density of follicles (C = 17.26 +/- 2.30, PER = 9.96 +/- 0.97).


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal malnutrition during lactation programs the follicular development by a reduction of VEGF and FGF mRNA receptors expression, probably from a direct action on the follicular development or a reduction in vasculature resulting in a decreased delivery of folliculotrophic substances in PER animals.
Ferreira
Rafaela Veiga
RV
Urogenital Research Unit, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Gombar
Flávia Meireles
FM
da Silva Faria
Tatiane
T
Costa
Waldemar Silva
WS
Sampaio
Francisco José Barcellos
FJ
da Fonte Ramos
Cristiane
C
D000818:Animals; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000502:physiology*; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000378:metabolism*; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000502:physiology*
D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor