title: Disturbed nitric oxide and homocysteine production are involved in the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in the F1 offspring of maternal obesity and malnutrition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to evaluate the changes in levels of different independent risk factors for vascular diseases in the rat offspring of maternal obesity and malnutrition as maternal health disturbances are thought to have direct consequences on the offspring health. The effect of postnatal diet on the offspring was also assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three groups of female Wistar rats were used (control, obese and malnourished). After the pregnancy and delivery, the offspring were weaned to control diet or high-caloric (HCD) diet and followed up for 30 weeks. Every 5 weeks postnatal, 20 pups (10 males and 10 females) of each subgroup were sacrificed after overnight fasting, the blood sample was obtained, and the rats were dissected out to obtain heart muscle. The following parameters were assessed; lipid profile, NEFA, homocysteine (Hcy), nitric oxide end product (NOx) and myocardial triglyceride content.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal obesity and malnutrition caused significant elevation in the body weight, triglycerides, NEFA, Hcy and NOx in the F1 offspring especially those maintained under HCD. Also, the male offspring showed more prominent changes than female offspring.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal malnutrition and obesity may increase the risk of the development of cardiovascular diseases in the offspring, especially the male ones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: Y Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Moussa
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Department, Padova University, Padua, Italy.|Department of Biochemistry, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tawfik
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Haiba
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt. m.ibrahim1988@hotmail.com.|The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. m.ibrahim1988@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Hanafi
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Abdelkhalek
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Oriquat
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kamel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000378:metabolism*; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D009569:Nitric Oxide
keywords: Diabetes; Fetal reprogramming; Malnutrition; Obesity