1
|
Page AJ. Plasticity of gastrointestinal vagal afferents in terms of feeding-related physiology and pathophysiology. J Physiol 2023. [PMID: 37737742 DOI: 10.1113/jp284075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal vagal afferents play an important role in communicating food related information from the gut to the brain. This information initiates vago-vagal reflexes essential for gut functions, including gut motility and secretions. These afferents also play a role in energy homeostasis, signalling the arrival, amount and nutrient composition of a meal to the central nervous system where it is processed ultimately leading to termination of a meal. Vagal afferent responses to food related stimuli demonstrate a high degree of plasticity, responding to short term changes in nutritional demand, such as the fluctuations that occur across a 24-hr or in response to a fast, as well as long term changes in energy demand, such as occurs during pregnancy. This plasticity is disrupted in disease states, such as obesity or chronic stress where there is hypo- and hypersensitivity of these afferents, respectively. Improved understanding of the plasticity of these afferents will enable identification of new treatment options for diseases associated with vagal afferent function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J Page
- Vagal Afferent Research Group, School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Nutrition, Diabetes & Gut Health, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, SAHMRI, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Maternal low intensity physical exercise prevents obesity in offspring rats exposed to early overnutrition. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7634. [PMID: 28794439 PMCID: PMC5550501 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07395-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Low intensity exercise during pregnancy and lactation may create a protective effect against the development of obesity in offspring exposed to overnutrition in early life. To test these hypotheses, pregnant rats were randomly assigned into 2 groups: Sedentary and Exercised, low intensity, on a rodent treadmill at 30% VO2Max /30-minute/session/3x/week throughout pregnancy and the lactation. Male offspring were raised in small litters (SL, 3 pups/dam) and normal litters (NL, 9 pups/dam) as models of early overnutrition and normal feed, respectively. Exercised mothers showed low mesenteric fat pad stores and fasting glucose and improved glucose-insulin tolerance, VO2max during lactation and sympathetic activity. Moreover, the breast milk contained elevated levels of insulin. In addition, SL of sedentary mothers presented metabolic dysfunction and glucose and insulin intolerance and were hyperglycemic and hyperinsulinemic in adulthood. SL of exercised mothers showed lower fat tissue accretion and improvements in glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, insulinemia and glycemia. The results suggest that maternal exercise during the perinatal period can have a possible reprogramming effect to prevent metabolic dysfunction in adult rat offspring exposed to early overnutrition, which may be associated with the improvement in maternal health caused by exercise.
Collapse
|
3
|
Rosa BV, Blair HT, Vickers MH, Dittmer KE, Morel PCH, Knight CG, Firth EC. Moderate exercise during pregnancy in Wistar rats alters bone and body composition of the adult offspring in a sex-dependent manner. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82378. [PMID: 24340022 PMCID: PMC3855443 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Exercise during pregnancy may have long-lasting effects on offspring health. Musculoskeletal growth and development, metabolism, and later-life disease risk can all be impacted by the maternal environment during pregnancy. The skeleton influences glucose handling through the actions of the bone-derived hormone osteocalcin. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of moderate maternal exercise during pregnancy on the bone and body composition of the offspring in adult life, and to investigate the role of osteocalcin in these effects. Groups of pregnant Wistar rats either performed bipedal standing exercise to obtain food/water throughout gestation but not lactation, or were fed conventionally. Litters were reduced to 8/dam and pups were raised to maturity under control conditions. Whole body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and ex vivo peripheral quantitative computed tomography scans of the right tibia were performed. At study termination blood and tissue samples were collected. Serum concentrations of fully and undercarboxylated osteocalcin were measured, and the relative expression levels of osteocalcin, insulin receptor, Forkhead box transcription factor O1, and osteotesticular protein tyrosine phosphatase mRNA were quantified. Body mass did not differ between the offspring of exercised and control dams, but the male offspring of exercised dams had a greater % fat and lower % lean than controls (p=0.001 and p=0.0008, respectively). At the mid-tibial diaphysis, offspring of exercised dams had a lower volumetric bone mineral density than controls (p=0.01) and in the male offspring of exercised dams the bone: muscle relationship was fundamentally altered. Serum concentrations of undercarboxylated osteocalcin were significantly greater in the male offspring of exercised dams than in controls (p=0.02); however, the relative expression of the measured genes did not differ between groups. These results suggest that moderate exercise during pregnancy can result in lasting changes to the musculoskeletal system and adiposity in offspring, in a sex-specific manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brielle V. Rosa
- GRAVIDA: National Centre for Growth and Development, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Hugh T. Blair
- GRAVIDA: National Centre for Growth and Development, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Mark H. Vickers
- GRAVIDA: National Centre for Growth and Development, The Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Keren E. Dittmer
- Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Patrick C. H. Morel
- Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Cameron G. Knight
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Elwyn C. Firth
- GRAVIDA: National Centre for Growth and Development, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rosa BV, Firth EC, Blair HT, Vickers MH, Morel PCH. Voluntary exercise in pregnant rats positively influences fetal growth without initiating a maternal physiological stress response. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2011; 300:R1134-41. [DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00683.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The effects of increased physical activity during pregnancy on the health of the offspring in later life are unknown. Research in this field requires an animal model of exercise during pregnancy that is sufficiently strenuous to cause an effect but does not elicit a stress response. Previously, we demonstrated that two models of voluntary exercise in the nonpregnant rat, tower climbing and rising to an erect bipedal stance (squat), cause bone modeling without elevating the stress hormone corticosterone. In this study, these same models were applied to pregnant rats. Gravid Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, tower climbing, and squat exercise. The rats exercised throughout pregnancy and were killed at day 19. Maternal stress was assessed by fecal corticosterone measurement. Maternal bone and soft tissue responses to exercise were assessed by peripheral quantitative computed tomography and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Maternal weight gain during the first 19 days of pregnancy was less in exercised than in nonexercised pregnant control rats. Fecal corticosterone levels did not differ between the three maternal groups. The fetuses responded to maternal exercise in a uterine position-dependent manner. Mid-uterine horn fetuses from the squat exercise group were heavier ( P < 0.0001) and longer ( P < 0.0001) and had a greater placental weight ( P = 0.001) than those from control rats. Fetuses from tower-climbing dams were longer ( P < 0.0001) and had heavier placentas ( P = 0.01) than those from control rats, but fetal weight did not differ from controls. These models of voluntary exercise in the rat may be useful for future studies of the effects of exercise during pregnancy on the developmental origins of health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brielle V. Rosa
- National Research Centre for Growth and Development, Institute of Veterinary, Animal, and Biomedical Sciences,
| | - Elwyn C. Firth
- National Research Centre for Growth and Development, Institute of Veterinary, Animal, and Biomedical Sciences,
| | - Hugh T. Blair
- National Research Centre for Growth and Development, Institute of Veterinary, Animal, and Biomedical Sciences,
| | - Mark H. Vickers
- National Research Centre for Growth and Development, Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Patrick C. H. Morel
- National Research Centre for Growth and Development, Institute of Food, Nutrition, and Human Health, Massey University, Palmerston North; and
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Parízková J. Interaction between physical activity and nutrition early in life and their impact on later development. Nutr Res Rev 2009; 11:71-90. [PMID: 19087460 DOI: 10.1079/nrr19980006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
It has been rare to find studies of the influence of nutrition on growth that have incorporated careful measurements of physical activity. This paper reviews interactions between physical activity and nutrition in early life and finds that such interactions have a significant influence on growth and later metabolism.Young animals are generally characterized by a high level of spontaneous motor activity that contributes to a high rate of energy turnover in early life. Such activity varies greatly between species and individuals and can be increased by reduced (but not extreme) dietary intake especially of protein, with consequent effects on growth rate (slower), body composition (leaner), eventual body size (smaller), lifespan (longer), cardiac resistance to toxic substances (increased) and changes in body lipids. Most studies have been conducted with laboratory rats but the much smaller literature concerning human beings is also reviewed here.In rats, exercise during pregnancy results in offspring that are smaller and leaner and there are later improvements in cardiac microstructure, cardiac resistance to toxic substances and lower plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations.In industrialized countries in recent years, children's fitness, especially of the cardiorespiratory system has not developed at the same pace as body size, or has deteriorated, whereas average body mass index (BMI) and the overall prevalence of obesity have increased. This is partly accounted for by reduced levels of physical activity but there is some evidence that higher intakes of dietary proteins in early life are also implicated. Much recent research has focused on the influence of nutrition in the prenatal and early postnatal period on later health. This review has also underlined the importance of exercise and its interaction with diet beginning with the pregnant mother and continuing through childhood. Development and wider use of simple but reliable methods for the evaluation of physical activity and fitness in young children is now an important priority.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Parízková
- Laboratory of Health Promotion, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Monteiro G, Aoki M, Santos C, Monteiro A, Russo A, Piçarro I. Effects of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation on endurance exercise performance of pregnant rats. Sci Sports 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.scispo.2008.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
|
7
|
Osorio RAL, Silveira VLF, Maldjian S, Morales A, Christofani JS, Russo AK, Silva AC, Piçarro IC. Swimming of pregnant rats at different water temperatures. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2003; 135:605-11. [PMID: 12890550 DOI: 10.1016/s1095-6433(03)00144-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
We studied the chronic effect of exercise during water immersion, associated with thermal stress (water temperature at 22, 35 and 40 degrees C) at an intensity of 80% of maximal work load supported in pregnant rats (P) and non-pregnant female rats (NP). P and NP were subdivided into three subgroups according to water temperature during exercise (P22 and NP22; P35 and NP35; P40 and NP40). The animals were submitted to daily swimming sessions of 10-15 min, for 19 days of pregnancy (P) or experimental conditions (NP). Plasma concentration of triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, total protein, albumin and corticosterone were determined 24 h after the last exercise session. Weight gain and rectal temperature pre- and post-swimming session were also determined. The offspring were examined just after caesarian section on the 20th day of pregnancy to check weight, length and litter size. Pregnant rats showed an increase of triglycerides, reduction of glycemia, total protein and albumin and cholesterol (at 35 degrees C) when compared to non-pregnant animals. Such effects probably lead to an adequate delivery of substrate to the fetus and prepare the mother for lactation. Daily thermal stress did not modify metabolic responses to exercise in pregnant rats. Results also show a deleterious effect on offspring when the mother is exposed daily to extreme temperatures during swimming. These results suggest that water temperature (cold and hot) in swimming have to be considered to avoid damage in fetal development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R A L Osorio
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
López-Luna P, Iglesias MA, Muñoz C, Herrera E. Aerobic exercise during pregnancy reverts maternal insulin resistance in rats. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1998; 30:1510-4. [PMID: 9789851 DOI: 10.1097/00005768-199810000-00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE AND METHODS To determine whether pregnancy modifies the effect of aerobic exercise on insulin responsiveness, female rats were mated or kept nonpregnant and exercised or not on a treadmill (10 degrees slope, 20 m.min-1) 5 d.wk-1 during a 20-min period that was increased progressively up to 70 min on the 19th d. On day 20, a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp was performed with 0.8 IU insulin.h-1.kg-1 under conscious conditions. RESULTS Food intake and body weight, circulating lactic acid, glucose, and insulin as well as fetal body weight and number were unaffected by the exercise protocol. The rate of glucose infusion required to maintain basal glucose levels during the clamp was similar in exercised and nonexercised virgin rats and significantly lower in pregnant than in virgin nonexercised rats. However, in exercised pregnant rats the glucose infusion rate was almost as high as in the exercised virgin rats. CONCLUSIONS The results show that although our aerobic exercise protocol does not affect insulin responsiveness in nonpregnant rats, it completely reverts the insulin resistance present in late pregnant rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P López-Luna
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|