Maternal obesity or weight loss around conception impacts hepatic fatty acid metabolism in the offspring.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the impact of maternal obesity or weight loss during the periconceptional period on programming of lipid metabolism in the liver of the offspring.


METHODS
An embryo transfer model was used to investigate the effects of exposure to either maternal obesity and/or weight loss before and for 1-week post-conception on the abundance of key molecules regulating hepatic fatty acid oxidation and lipid synthesis in the 4-month-old lamb.


RESULTS
Periconceptional maternal obesity resulted in decreased hepatic PPARα, PGC1α and GCN5 abundance and increased hepatic SIRT1 and AMPKα1, AMPKα2 and SREBP1 abundance in the offspring. Maternal weight loss in obese ewes did not ablate all of these effects of maternal obesity on hepatic metabolism in the lamb. Weight loss in normal weight ewes also resulted in decreased hepatic PGC1α and GCN5 and increased AMPKα2 abundance in the offspring.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure of the oocyte/embryo to either maternal obesity or weight loss during the periconceptional period has long term consequences for hepatic lipid metabolism. These findings highlight the sensitivity of the early embryo to maternal nutrition and the need for dietary interventions which maximize metabolic benefits and minimize metabolic costs for the next generation.
Sansom Institute for Health Research, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, South Australia, Australia, 5000.
Lisa M
LM
Nicholas
Leewen
L
Rattanatray
Janna L
JL
Morrison
David O
DO
Kleemann
Simon K
SK
Walker
Song
S
Zhang
Severence
S
MacLaughlin
I Caroline
IC
McMillen
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012756:Sheep; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
D005227:Fatty Acids