High Fat Diet Exposure during Fetal Life Enhances Plasma and Hepatic Omega-6 Fatty Acid Profiles in Fetal Wistar Rats.
Pregnant rats were fed a high fat diet (HFD) for the first (HF1), second (HF2), third (HF3) or all three weeks (HFG) of gestation. Maintenance on a HFD during specific periods of gestation was hypothesized to alter fetal glycemia, insulinemia, induce insulin resistance; and alter fetal plasma and hepatic fatty acid (FA) profiles. At day 20 of gestation, fetal plasma and hepatic FA profiles were determined by gas chromatography; body weight, fasting glycemia, insulinemia and the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-insulin resistance) were also determined. HF3 fetuses were heaviest concomitant with elevated glycemia and insulin resistance (p < 0.05). HFG fetuses had elevated plasma linoleic (18:2 n-6) and arachidonic (20:4 n-6) acid proportions (p < 0.05). In the liver, HF3 fetuses displayed elevated linoleic, eicosatrienoic (20:3 n-6) and arachidonic acid proportions (p < 0.05). HFG fetuses had reduced hepatic docosatrienoic acid (22:5 n-3) proportions (p < 0.05). High fat maintenance during the final week of fetal life enhances hepatic omega-6 FA profiles in fetuses concomitant with hyperglycemia and insulin resistance thereby presenting a metabolically compromised phenotype.
Diabetes Discovery Platform, South African Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 19070, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa. marlon.cerf@mrc.ac.za.
Marlon E
ME
Cerf
Diabetes Discovery Platform, South African Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 19070, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa. johan.louw@mrc.ac.za.
Johan
J
Louw
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of San Pablo-CEU, Ctra. Boadilla del Monte km 5.3, Madrid 28668, Spain. eherrera@ceu.es.
Emilio
E
Herrera
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011247:Pregnancy; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D007328:Insulin
fatty acid analysis; fetal programming; metabolic disease