The effect of pivalate treatment of pregnant rats on body mass and insulin levels in the adult offspring

Lipid storage myopathies: Current treatments and future directions

Lipid storage myopathies (LSMs) are a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders that present with abnormal lipid storage in multiple body organs, typically muscle. Patients can clinically present with cardiomyopathy, skeletal muscle weakness, myalgia, and extreme fatigue. An early diagnosis is crucial, as some LSMs can be managed by simple nutraceutical supplementation. For example, high dosage l-carnitine is an effective intervention for patients with Primary Carnitine Deficiency (PCD). This review discusses the clinical features and management practices of PCD as well as Neutral Lipid Storage Disease (NLSD) and Multiple Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (MADD). We provide a detailed summary of current clinical management strategies, highlighting issues of high-risk contraindicated treatments with case study examples not previously reviewed. Additionally, we outline current preclinical studies providing disease mechanistic insight. Lastly, we propose that a number of other conditions involving lipid metabolic dysfunction that are not classified as LSMs may share common features. These include Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) and autoimmune myopathies, including Polymyositis (PM), Dermatomyositis (DM), and Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM).

Metabolic Adaptations in Pregnancy: A Review

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy is a dynamic state involving multiple adaptations that are necessary in order to ensure a continuous supply of essential metabolites to support the growth and the development of the fetus.

OBJECTIVES

This review article is aimed to discuss important adaptations in metabolism that take place during non-complicated pregnancy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched the electronic database PubMed for pre-clinical as well as clinical controlled trials reporting the importance of metabolic adaptations during a non-complicated pregnancy. The preferred language was English and the most recent reports were selected to get an updated review.

RESULTS

It was observed clearly in the searched literature that metabolic adaptations are a crucial part of pregnancy, as they provide the mother with sufficient energy stores to meet the demands of pregnancy. These adaptions also help in preparing the mother for lactation and also help in providing proper environment for the proper growth of fetus in the womb. Moreover, multiple biomolecules including glucose, fatty acids, ketone bodies, hormones collectively contribute toward these metabolic adaptations.

CONCLUSIONS

This review article concludes that metabolic adaptations are crucial for proper fetus development.

Pivalate lowers litter sizes and weights in female rats independent of its effect on carnitine status

The present study investigated whether treatment of female rats with pivalate affects their reproductive function. Therefore, two experiments with female rats were performed. The first experiment included two groups of rats which received drinking water without (control) or with 20 mmol pivalate/L. The second experiment included a control group (which received drinking water without pivalate and a diet without added carnitine) and four groups which received drinking water with 20 mmol/L pivalate and diets without or with 1, 3 or 5 g added carnitine/kg, respectively. In both experiments, rats treated with pivalate had a lower number of pups born alive and, as a consequence of this, lower litter weights than control rats (p<0.05); pup weights were not altered by pivalate treatment. Supplementation of dietary carnitine in Experiment 2 increased plasma and tissue carnitine concentration even in excess of those in control rats but did not restore normal litter sizes. This study shows for the first time that pivalate affects the reproductive function in female rats independent of its effect on the carnitine status.

Carnitine depletion in rat pups from mothers given mildronate: a model of carnitine deficiency in late fetal and neonatal life

Mildronate (3-(2,2,2,-trimethylhydrazinium)propionate), is a butyrobetaine analogue that is known to inhibit gamma-butyrobetaine hydroxylase, the enzyme catalyzing the last step of carnitine biosynthesis. When administered to adult rats it determines a systemic carnitine deficiency and may therefore serve as an animal model for human carnitine depletion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of mildronate administration to pregnant and lactating rats on tissue carnitine concentrations in 4- and 13-day-old rat pups. At 14 days of gestation female rats began to receive mildronate in the diet (200 mg/kg/d) and this continued for entire lactation period. Mildronate treatment determined a large reduction of carnitine levels in the milk of lactating dams. Because organ carnitine concentrations in neonatal rats are directly related to dietary supply, pups from mildronate group had significantly depleted levels of total carnitine in serum, heart, liver, muscle, brain and pancreas relative to controls, at 4 and 13 days of age. Correspondingly, an increase in triglyceride levels was observed in liver, heart and muscle of mildronate pups. This is in agreement with a reduction of basal rate of oxidation of [U-(14)C]-palmitate to (14)CO(2) and (14)C-acid-soluble products observed in liver homogenates from carnitine-deficient pups. All functional and biochemical modifications were compatible with a carnitine deficiency status. In conclusion our results describe a model of carnitine depletion in pups, suitable for the investigation of carnitine deficiency in fetal-neonatal nutrition, without any concomitant mildronate-mediated metabolic alterations.