title: Maternal taurine supplementation in rats partially prevents the adverse effects of early-life protein deprivation on β-cell function and insulin sensitivity.
abstract: Dietary protein restriction during pregnancy and lactation in rats impairs β-cell function and mass in neonates and leads to glucose intolerance in adult offspring. Maternal taurine (Tau) supplementation during pregnancy in rats restores β-cell function and mass in neonates, but its long-term effects are unclear. The prevention of postnatal catch-up growth has been suggested to improve glucose tolerance in adult offspring of low-protein (LP)-fed mothers. The objective of this study was to examine the relative contribution of β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance to impaired glucose tolerance in 130-day-old rat offspring of LP-fed mothers and the effects of maternal Tau supplementation on β-cell function and insulin resistance in these offspring. Pregnant rats were fed i) control, ii) LP, and iii) LP+Tau diets during gestation and lactation. Offspring were given a control diet following weaning. A fourth group consisting of offspring of LP-fed mothers, maintained on a LP diet following weaning, was also studied (LP-all life). Insulin sensitivity in the offspring of LP-fed mothers was reduced in females but not in males. In both genders, LP exposure decreased β-cell function. Tau supplementation improved insulin sensitivity in females and β-cell function in males. The LP-all life diet improved β-cell function in males. We conclude that i) maternal Tau supplementation has persistent effects on improving glucose metabolism (β-cell function and insulin sensitivity) in adult rat offspring of LP-fed mothers and ii) increasing the amount of protein in the diet of offspring adapted to a LP diet after weaning may impair glucose metabolism (β-cell function) in a gender-specific manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marchand
authors.forename: Loretta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lux-Lantos
authors.forename: Sandra M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Thyssen
authors.forename: June
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Adria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giacca
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arany
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013654:Taurine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D002096:C-Peptide; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D013654:Taurine