Adult mice offspring of obese mothers supplemented with melatonin show lessened liver steatosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum stress

The Impact of Maternal Obesity and Deprivation On Energy Metabolism, Oxidative Stress and Brain Antioxidant Defense in the Neurodevelopment of Offspring in the Short, Medium and Long Term

The current global obesity epidemic is often associated with changes in dietary habits and lifestyle. Increasing evidence from both observational and experimental animal studies has highlighted the relationship between prenatal exposures and an increased predisposition to metabolic and cognitive disorders, as well as obesity in adulthood. In this study, we used a rodent model to investigate brain energy metabolism by assessing mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I and II, along with oxidative stress markers (DCF) and antioxidant defenses (GSH and SOD), aiming to identify potential alterations in the central nervous system during offspring neurodevelopment. Our results demonstrated increased body weight and mesenteric fat accumulation in early life and adolescence, along with an imbalance in brain energy metabolism when maternal obesity and early-life stress (maternal deprivation) were combined. By exploring the complex interactions between gestational exposures and long-term behavioral and metabolic outcomes in an experimental model, our findings contribute to a better understanding of the developmental origins of health and disease.

Sex-Specific Metabolic Effects of Gestational Chronodisruption and Maternal Melatonin Supplementation in Rat Offspring

Gestational chronodisruption, increasingly common due to irregular light exposure, disrupts maternal-fetal circadian signaling, leading to long-term health issues in offspring. We utilized a chronic photoperiod shifting model (CPS) in pregnant rats to induce chronodisruption and investigated the potential mitigating effects of maternal melatonin supplementation (CPS + Mel). Male and female offspring were evaluated at 3 ages (90, 200, and 400 days of age) for metabolic profiles, hormonal responses, cytokine levels, and adipose tissue activity. Our findings indicate that gestational chronodisruption leads to increased birth weight by approximately 15% in male and female offspring and increased obesity prevalence in male offspring, accompanied by a 30% reduction in nocturnal melatonin levels and a significant disruption in corticosterone rhythms. Male CPS offspring also exhibited decreased lipolytic activity in white adipose tissue, with a 25% reduction in glycerol release compared to controls, indicating impaired metabolic flexibility. In contrast, female offspring, while less affected metabolically, showed a 25% increase in adipose tissue lipolytic activity and higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 (increased by 40%). Scheduled melatonin supplementation in chronodisrupted mothers, administered throughout gestation, effectively normalized birth weights in both sexes, reduced obesity prevalence in males by 18%, and improved lipolytic activity in male offspring, bringing it closer to control levels. In females, melatonin supplementation moderated cytokine levels, reducing IL-6 by 35% and restoring IL-10 levels to near-control values. These results highlight the importance of sex-specific prenatal interventions, particularly the role of melatonin in preventing disruptions to fetal metabolic and inflammatory pathways caused by gestational chronodisruption. Melatonin treatment would prevent maternal circadian rhythm misalignment, thereby supporting healthy fetal development. This study opens new avenues for developing targeted prenatal care strategies that align maternal and fetal circadian rhythms, mitigating the long-term health risks associated with chronodisruption during pregnancy.

Melatonin supplementation in obese mothers reduces hypothalamic inflammation and enhances thermogenesis in mice progeny

Maternal obesity might induce obesity and metabolic alterations in the progeny. The study aimed to determine the effect of supplementing obese mothers with Mel (Mel) on thermogenesis and inflammation. C57BL/6 female mice (mothers) were fed from weaning to 12 weeks control diet (C, 17% kJ as fat) or a high-fat diet (HF, 49% kJ as fat) and then matted with male mice fed the control diet. Melatonin (10 mg/kg daily) was supplemented to mothers during gestation and lactation, forming the groups C, CMel, HF, and HFMel (n = 10/group). Twelve-week male offspring were studied (plasma biochemistry, immunohistochemistry, protein, and gene expressions at the hypothalamus - Hyp, subcutaneous white adipose tissue - sWAT, and interscapular brown adipose tissue - iBAT). Comparing HFMel vs. HF offspring, fat deposits and plasmatic proinflammatory markers decreased. Also, HFMel showed decreased Hyp proinflammatory markers and neuropeptide Y (anabolic) expression but improved proopiomelanocortin (catabolic) expression. Besides, HFMel sWAT adipocytes changed to a beige phenotype with-beta-3 adrenergic receptor and uncoupling protein-1 activation, concomitant with browning genes activation, triggering the iBAT thermogenic activity. In conclusion, compelling evidence indicated the beneficial effects of supplementing obese mothers with Mel on the health of their mature male offspring. Mel led to sWAT browning-related gene enhancement, increased iBAT thermogenis, and mitigated hypothalamic inflammation. Also, principal component analysis of the data significantly separated the untreated obese mother progeny from the progeny of treated obese mothers. If confirmed in humans, the findings encourage a future guideline recommending Mel supplementation during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

From gestational chronodisruption to noncommunicable diseases: Pathophysiological mechanisms of programming of adult diseases, and the potential therapeutic role of melatonin

During gestation, the developing fetus relies on precise maternal circadian signals for optimal growth and preparation for extrauterine life. These signals regulate the daily delivery of oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and other biophysical factors while synchronizing fetal rhythms with the external photoperiod. However, modern lifestyle factors such as light pollution and shift work can induce gestational chronodisruption, leading to the desynchronization of maternal and fetal circadian rhythms. Such disruptions have been associated with adverse effects on cardiovascular, neurodevelopmental, metabolic, and endocrine functions in the fetus, increasing the susceptibility to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in adult life. This aligns with the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease theory, suggesting that early-life exposures can significantly influence health outcomes later in life. The consequences of gestational chronodisruption also extend into adulthood. Environmental factors like diet and stress can exacerbate the adverse effects of these disruptions, underscoring the importance of maintaining a healthy circadian rhythm across the lifespan to prevent NCDs and mitigate the impact of gestational chronodisruption on aging. Research efforts are currently aimed at identifying potential interventions to prevent or mitigate the effects of gestational chronodisruption. Melatonin supplementation during pregnancy emerges as a promising intervention, although further investigation is required to fully understand the precise mechanisms involved and to develop effective strategies for promoting health and preventing NCDs in individuals affected by gestational chronodisruption.

Obese mothers supplemented with melatonin during gestation and lactation ameliorate the male offspring's pancreatic islet cellular composition and beta-cell function

Melatonin supplementation to obese mothers during gestation and lactation might benefit the pancreatic islet cellular composition and beta-cell function in male offspring adulthood. C57BL/6 females (mothers) were assigned to two groups (n = 20/each) based on their consumption in control (C 17% kJ as fat) or high-fat diet (HF 49% kJ as fat). Mothers were supplemented with melatonin (Mel) (10 mg/kg daily) during gestation and lactation, or vehicle, forming the groups (n = 10/each): C, CMel, HF, and HFMel. The male offspring were studied, considering they only received the C diet after weaning until three months old. The HF mothers and their offspring showed higher body weight, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and low insulin sensitivity than the C ones. However, HFMel mothers and their offspring showed improved glucose metabolism and weight loss than the HF ones. Also, the offspring's higher expressions of pro-inflammatory markers and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress were observed in HF but reduced in HFMel. Contrarily, antioxidant enzymes were less expressed in HF but improved in HFMel. In addition, HF showed increased beta-cell mass and hyperinsulinemia but diminished in HFMel. Besides, the beta-cell maturity and identity gene expressions diminished in HF but enhanced in HFMel. In conclusion, obese mothers supplemented with melatonin benefit their offspring's islet cell remodeling and function. In addition, improving pro-inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, and ER stress resulted in better glucose and insulin levels control. Consequently, pancreatic islets and functioning beta cells were preserved in the offspring of obese mothers supplemented with melatonin.