Sugared water consumption by adult offspring of mothers fed a protein-restricted diet during pregnancy results in increased offspring adiposity: the second hit effect

Early-life famine exposure and subsequent risk of chronic disease comorbidity in later adulthood: the role of social activities

Background

With the global population aging, the burden of health issues has shifted from infectious diseases to chronic diseases. Research indicates a significant link between exposure to famine in early life and chronic diseases. However, evidence regarding the relationships among early-life famine exposure, social activities, and chronic disease comorbidities is lacking.

Objectives

We aimed to systematically assess how early-life famine exposure influences the risk of chronic disease comorbidities in later adulthood and how social activities modulate this risk.

Methods

In this nationwide study, we utilized data from the fourth wave of the CHARLS conducted in 2018. We included 6,641 participants and categorized them into five groups based on birth dates. We used the LCA model to reclassify the 14 chronic diseases from the CHARLS survey as the main outcome indicators. We employed stepwise logistic regression to examine the link between early-life famine exposure and the subsequent risk of chronic disease comorbidity in adulthood, presenting the findings as ORs and 95% CIs. We conducted subgroup analyses according to baseline characteristics to examine the robustness and potential differences in outcomes for chronic disease comorbidity. We evaluated the interaction between famine exposure and social engagement on both additive and multiplicative scales using generalized linear models (GLM).

Results

The prevalence of chronic disease comorbidity patterns between 1.3% (cancer-related disease) and 19.9% (cardiovascular disease comorbidity). Those who experience famine in early life face a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease comorbidity in late adulthood, with an OR (95% CI) of 1.42 (1.12 to 1.80), urinary system disease with an OR (95% CI) of 1.87 (1.05 to 3.34), and multimorbidity with an OR (95% CI) of 1.39 (1.07 to 1.79) compared to those who did not experience such conditions. Participating in social activities can lower the risk of metabolic disease comorbidities in late adulthood for infants who experienced famine, with an (OR [95% CI] of 0.64 [0.43 to 0.97]). There was an interactive effect on the additive (OR [95% CI] of -0.42 [-2.52 to -0.32], P < 0.01) and multiplicative (P = 0.001) effect between infants with famine exposure and social activity.

Conclusion

Experiencing famine in early life is associated with a heightened risk of chronic disease comorbidities in later adulthood, a relationship modulated by participation in social activities. Social activities and early life exposure to famine have an interactive effect on chronic disease comorbidities in later adulthood.

Maternal protein restriction and postnatal sugar consumption increases inflammatory response and deregulates metabolic pathways in the liver of male offspring rats with aging

This study investigated the late effects of maternal protein restriction (MPR) and early postnatal sugar consumption on liver health in male Sprague-Dawley rat offspring, focusing on changes observed throughout the aging process. The animals were divided into the following groups: Control (CTR): Male offspring whose dams consumed a normal protein diet (NPD, 17% protein) and water ad libitum during gestation and lactation, and then fed a NPD and water until PND 540; Control + Sugar (CTR + SUG): The same treatment as CTR, but consuming a sugar solution (10% diluted in water) from postnatal day (PND) 21-90, and then fed a NPD and water until PND 540; Gestational and Lactational Low Protein (GLLP): Male offspring whose dams consumed a low-protein diet (LPD, 6% protein) during gestation and lactation and, then fed a NPD and water ad libitum until PND 540; Gestational and Lactational Low Protein + Sugar (GLLP + SUG): male offspring whose dams consumed a LPD during gestation and lactation, and then fed a NPD and a sugar solution (10% diluted in water) ad libitum from PND 21 to 90. On PND 540, the animals were anesthetized, weighed, and euthanized, and their livers were collected for morphological and molecular analyses. The GLLP and GLLP + SUG groups showed lower body weight and lower retroperitoneal fat weight compared to the CTR and CTR + SUG groups. Morphological analysis revealed inflammatory foci in the liver from the CTR + SUG, GLLP, and GLLP + SUG groups, compared to the CTR group. Hepatic activities of CAT, SOD, and GSH-Px were increased in the GLLP + SUG group and decreased in the GLLP group, compared to the CTR group. Immunohistochemistry showed a significant increase in occupied area per foci de hepatocytes positive for GSTpi (placental form) in the CTR + SUG, GLLP, and GLLP + SUG groups, compared to the CTR group. Proteomic analysis of the groups revealed significant changes in hepatic metabolic and inflammatory pathways. In the CTR + SUG group, upregulated pathways associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and downregulated pathways related to autophagy were observed. In the GLLP and GLLP + SUG groups, there was a significant impact on metabolic pathways, including glucose metabolism, gluconeogenesis, glycogenesis, and cellular stress responses. An upregulation of pathways associated with chemokine- and cytokine-mediated inflammatory processes was also identified, indicating activation of the immune system in the liver during aging. Therefore, MPR, with or without postnatal sugar consumption, resulted in hepatic changes in metabolism and the antioxidant defense in old male offspring.

Antihyperlipidemic Effect of Oyster Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus (Agaricomycetes) Extract in Rats with Postnatal Sucrose Consumption Whose Mothers Also Consumed Sucrose

Male offspring of rats whose mothers consumed sucrose (5% solution) during gestation and lactation were also given the sucrose solution instead of drinking water for 3 months, and subsequently, for 1 month, they were given an aqueous extract obtained from dehydrated fruiting bodies of Pleurotus ostreatus. The offspring that consumed sucrose (experimental group) did not show differences in body weight compared with those that did not consume sucrose (control group), however, total adiposity was higher in the experimental group. In rats that consumed the aqueous extract, a decrease in the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in blood plasma was observed, total adiposity also decreased and the average size of adipocytes in the visceral area was reduced. Consumption of the aqueous extract of P. ostreatus showed an antihyperlipidemic effect when triglyceride, cholesterol and adipose tissue levels were increased by the consumption of sucrose in rats descended from mothers who also consumed sucrose.

Maternal protein restriction combined with postnatal sugar consumption alters liver proteomic profile and metabolic pathways in adult male offspring rats

This study investigated the impact of maternal protein restriction (MPR) and early postnatal sugar consumption (SUG) on the liver health of adult male descendant rats. Male offspring of mothers fed a normal protein diet (NPD) or a low protein diet (LPD) were divided into four groups: Control (CTR), Sugar Control (CTR + SUG), LPD during gestation and lactation (GLLP), and LPD with sugar (GLLP + SUG). Sugar consumption (10% glucose diluted in water) began after weaning on day 21 (PND 21), and at 90 days (PND 90), rats were sacrificed for analysis. Sugar intake reduced food intake and increased water consumption in CTR + SUG and GLLP + SUG compared to CTR and GLLP. GLLP and GLLP + SUG groups showed lower body weight and total and retroperitoneal fat compared to CTR and CTR + SUG. CTR + SUG and GLLP + SUG groups exhibited hepatocyte vacuolization associated with increased hepatic glycogen content compared to CTR and GLLP. Hepatic catalase activity increased in GLLP compared to CTR. Proteomic analysis identified 223 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) among experimental groups. While in the GLLP group, the DEPs enriched molecular pathways related to cellular stress, glycogen metabolic pathways were enriched in the GLLP + SUG and CTR + SUG groups. The association of sugar consumption amplifies the effects of MPR, deregulating molecular mechanisms related to metabolism and the antioxidant system.

Maternal exposure of rats to sodium saccharin during gestation and lactation on male offspring†

We investigated the effects of fetal programming in Sprague-Dawley rats through the maternal consumption of sodium saccharin on the testicular structure and function in male offspring. Feed intake and efficiency, organ and fat weight, quantification and expression of androgen receptor (AR), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) proteins, sperm count, and hormone levels were determined. Consumption alterations were found in the final weeks of the experiment. Decreases in AR and PCNA expression and quantification, tubular diameter, and luminal volume, and increases in epithelial and interstitial relative volumes were observed. Lower sperm count and transit, and lower estradiol concentration were also found. Sodium saccharin consumption by dams programmed male offspring by affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis with alterations in the Sertoli cell population, in spermatogonia proliferation, the expression and quantification of AR, and in sperm count. We hypothesized that these changes may be due to an estradiol reduction that caused the loosening of adhesion junctions of the blood-testis barrier, causing cell losses during spermatogenesis, also reflected by a decrease in tubular diameter with an increase in epithelial volume and consequent decrease in luminal volume. We conclude that maternal sodium saccharin consumption during pregnancy and lactation programmed alterations in the reproductive parameters of male offspring, thus influencing spermatogenesis.

High-fat diet consumption by male rat offspring of obese mothers exacerbates adipose tissue hypertrophy and metabolic alterations in adult life

Obese mothers' offspring develop obesity and metabolic alterations in adulthood. Poor postnatal dietary patterns also contribute to obesity and its comorbidities. We aimed to determine whether in obese mothers' offspring an adverse postnatal environment, such as high-fat diet (HFD) consumption (second hit) exacerbates body fat accumulation, metabolic alterations and adipocyte size distribution. Female Wistar rats ate chow (C-5 %-fat) or HFD (maternal obesity (MO)-25 %-fat) from weaning until the end of lactation. Male offspring were weaned on either control (C/C and MO/C, maternal diet/offspring diet) or HFD (C/HF and MO/HF) diet. At 110 postnatal days, offspring were killed. Fat depots were excised to estimate adiposity index (AI). Serum glucose, triglyceride, leptin, insulin, insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), corticosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) were determined. Adipocyte size distribution was evaluated in retroperitoneal fat. Body weight was similar in C/C and MO/C but higher in C/HF and MO/HF. AI, leptin, insulin and HOMA-IR were higher in MO/C and C/HF v. C/C but lower than MO/HF. Glucose increased in MO/HF v. MO/C. C/HF and MO/C had higher triglyceride and corticosterone than C/C, but lower corticosterone than MO/HF. DHEA and the DHEA/corticosterone ratio were lower in C/HF and MO/C v. C/C, but higher than MO/HF. Small adipocyte proportion decreased while large adipocyte proportions increased in MO/C and C/HF v. C/C and exacerbated in MO/HF v. C/HF. Postnatal consumption of a HFD by the offspring of obese mothers exacerbates body fat accumulation as well as the decrease of small and the increase of large adipocytes, which leads to larger metabolic abnormalities.

Maternal and Offspring Sugar Consumption Increases Perigonadal Adipose Tissue Hypertrophy and Negatively Affects the Testis Histological Organization in Adult Rats

Sugar intake has been associated with the development of male reproductive pathologies because of the increase and dysfunction in different adipose tissue depots. The establishment of these dysfunctions in the early stages of development is unknown. We evaluated the effect of maternal (pregnancy and lactation) and male offspring (from weaning to adulthood) consumption of 5% sucrose on perigonadal adipose tissue (PAT) and testis in adulthood. Moreover, two rat groups were compared, both including pregnant and lactating females: Control (C—drinking tap water) and sugar (S—consuming 5% sucrose solution). From weaning to adulthood with male offspring, four subgroups were formed: Control Mother → Control and Sugar offspring (CC, CS) and Sugar Mother → Control and Sugar offspring (SC, SS). At 120 postnatal days, the testes and PAT were collected and morphologically described. Furthermore, we quantified the number and cross-sectional area of perigonadal adipocytes and their distribution. We found that the males from SC and SS groups showed high PAT weight (p < 0.005), a high number (p < 0.05), and a relative frequency of large adipocytes (p < 0.05), establishing these results during gestational and lactation stages, and enhancing in adulthood since postnatal diet and its interaction. More macrophages, mast cells, and Leydig cells were observed in the interstitial space of the testis for the CS, SC, and SS groups, concluding that consumption of a high-carbohydrate maternal diet, program hypertrophy processes in adult PAT, developing and enhancing with sugar consumption during postnatal life. Furthermore, they are associated with inflammatory processes within the interstitial space of the testis.

Sucrose exposure during gestation lactation and postweaning periods increases the pubococcygeus muscle reflex activity in adult male rats

Erectile dysfunction is related to metabolic alterations produced by a high carbohydrate diet, which may affect muscle activity during penile reflex in adulthood. We determined whether sucrose water consumption during gestation lactation and postweaning affects pubococcygeus muscle (Pcm) activity during urethrogenital reflex in adult male rat offspring. Twelve female rats were mated and grouped in control mothers consumed tap water and sucrose mothers consumed sucrose water during gestation lactation. Male pups were weaned and assigned into four groups (n = 6 each): those from control mothers who continued drinking tap water (CM-CO group) or sucrose water (CM-SO group) until adult life, and those from sucrose mothers who drank tap water (SM-CO group) or continued drinking sucrose water (SM-SO group) until adult life. Body weight, Pcm activity during penile stimulation by bipolar electrodes and urethrogenital reflex were analyzed. A catheter was placed into the urethra to record variations in urethral pressure after mechanical stimulation. Two-way ANOVA followed by post hoc tests were used considering P ≤ 0.05 as a significant difference. Males from the SM-SO group showed weight gain compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Also, sucrose intake promoted high Pcm activity (P < 0.0001) but reduced urethrogenital reflex duration CM-CO vs CM-SO (P = 0.02); CM-CO vs SM-CO (P = 0.01); CM-SO vs SM-SO (P < 0.003); and SM-CO vs SM-SO (P < 0.002). Our results suggest that a combination of a sucrose-rich diet during gestation lactation and postweaning modifies Pcm activation during penile reflex. The urethrogenital reflex is a spinal ejaculatory-like reflex, these rats could have penile dysfunction equivalent to premature ejaculation in men.

Guideline No. 391-Pregnancy and Maternal Obesity Part 1: Pre-conception and Prenatal Care

OBJECTIVE

This guideline will review key aspects in the pregnancy care of women with obesity. Part I will focus on pre-conception and pregnancy care. Part II will focus on team planning for delivery and Postpartum Care.

INTENDED USERS

All health care providers (obstetricians, family doctors, midwives, nurses, anaesthesiologists) who provide pregnancy-related care to women with obesity.

TARGET POPULATION

Women with obesity who are pregnant or planning pregnancies.

EVIDENCE

Literature was retrieved through searches of Statistics Canada, Medline, and The Cochrane Library on the impact of obesity in pregnancy on antepartum and intrapartum care, maternal morbidity and mortality, obstetrical anaesthesia, and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Results were restricted to systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials/controlled clinical trials, and observational studies. There were no date or language restrictions. Searches were updated on a regular basis and incorporated in the guideline to September 2018. Grey (unpublished) literature was identified through searching the websites of health technology assessment and related agencies, clinical practice guideline collections, clinical trial registries, and national and international medical specialty societies.

VALIDATION METHODS

The content and recommendations were drafted and agreed upon by the authors. Then the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Committee peer reviewed the content and submitted comments for consideration, and the Board of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) approved the final draft for publication. Areas of disagreement were discussed during meetings, at which time consensus was reached. The level of evidence and quality of the recommendation made were described using the Evaluation of Evidence criteria of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.

BENEFITS, HARMS, AND COSTS

Implementation of the recommendations in these guidelines may increase obstetrical provider recognition of the issues affected pregnant individuals with obesity, including clinical prevention strategies, communication between the health care team, the patient and family as well as equipment and human resource planning. It is hoped that regional, provincial and federal agencies will assist in the education and support of coordinated care for pregnant individuals with obesity.

GUIDELINE UPDATE

SOGC guidelines will be automatically reviewed 5 years after publication. However, authors can propose another review date if they feel that 5 years is too short/long based on their expert knowledge of the subject matter.

SPONSORS

This guideline was developed with resources funded by the SOGC.

SUMMARY STATEMENTS

RECOMMENDATIONS.

Exclusively drinking sucrose or saline early in life alters adult drinking behavior by laboratory rats

Proper fluid balance is critical for life. Learning plays an important role in shaping the appetitive behaviors required for drinking. Children often forego drinking plain water and instead consume beverages such as milk or juice. What effect this may have on adult thirst responses remains an open question. To model aspects of the human condition, we bred Sprague-Dawley rats and prevented the pups from obtaining fluid other than from nursing. Pups were weaned onto either tap water, 5% sucrose, or 0.45% saline, and given access to only that fluid for at least 7 weeks. We then measured intake of water or sucrose/saline in one-bottle tests after mild hypertonic saline (HS) injection, or overnight fluid deprivation, and in two-bottle tests after HS injection while rats were maintained on their respective fluids, and after all subjects had only water to drink for a week. We found that sucrose- and saline-maintained rats drank less water than did controls after the HS challenge. After overnight fluid deprivation, rats maintained on saline drank less water and more saline, but there was no difference in intake between water-maintained and sucrose-maintained rats. Differences in licking patterns, including more licks/burst for sucrose by sucrose-maintained rats were detected, even in cases when total intake was not different. These data provide evidence that adult rat water intake can be reduced by exclusively drinking sucrose or saline early in life.

Effect of maternal baboon (Papio sp.) dietary mismatch in pregnancy and lactation on post-natal offspring early life phenotype

BACKGROUND

Non-human primate models of developmental programing by maternal mismatch between pregnancy and lactation diets are needed for translation to human programing outcomes. We present baboon offspring morphometry from birth to 3 years, and blood cortisol and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) from 2 to 24 months.

METHODS

Control mothers ate chow; mismatch mothers ate 30% less than controls during pregnancy and high-fat high-energy diet through lactation.

RESULTS

Mismatch mothers lost weight during pregnancy. At birth, there were trends toward lower weight in mismatch offspring of both sexes (P = 0.06). From 0-3 years, catch-up growth occurred. Mismatch offspring male and female body weight increased faster than controls (P < 0.001). Mismatch female offspring showed greater increase in BMI (P < 0.001) and abdominal circumference (P = 0.008) vs controls. ACTH and cortisol slopes from 2 to 24 months of age were similar between groups in both sexes. Cortisol and ACTH increased after weaning in all groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Mismatch produces sexually dimorphic post-natal growth phenotypes.

Resveratrol prevents combined prenatal NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) treatment plus postnatal high-fat diet induced programmed hypertension in adult rat offspring: interplay between nutrient-sensing signals, oxidative stress and gut microbiota

Oxidative stress, nutrient-sensing signals, high-fat (HF) intake and dysbiosis of gut microbiota are involved in the development of hypertension, a disorder that can originate in early life. We examined whether postnatal HF diet can aggravate maternal N^G-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) treatment-induced programmed hypertension and whether resveratrol therapy can prevent it. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats received L-NAME administration at 60 mg/kg/day subcutaneously during pregnancy alone, or with additional resveratrol (R) 50 mg/L in drinking water during the pregnancy and lactation. The offspring were onto either regular chow or HF diet (D12331) from weaning to 16 weeks of age. Male offspring rats were assigned to five groups (N=8/group): control, L-NAME, HF, L-NAME+HF and L-NAME+HF + R at weaning at 3 weeks of age. Rats were sacrificed at 16 weeks of age. We observed that postnatal HF diet exacerbates maternal L-NAME treatment-induced programmed hypertension in male adult offspring, which resveratrol attenuated. Combined L-LAME and HF diet-induced hypertension is related to increased oxidative stress, inhibiting AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/ peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator 1α (PGC-1α) pathway and altered gut microbiota compositions. L-NAME+HF caused an increase of the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, which resveratrol therapy prevented. Additionally, the abundances of phylum Verrucomicrobia and genus Akkermansia were amplified by resveratrol therapy. Conclusively, our data highlighted the interactions between maternal NO deficiency, HF diet, AMPK/PGC-1α pathway and gut microbiota in which the blood pressure of adult offspring can be modified by resveratrol. Resveratrol might be a useful reprogramming strategy to prevent L-NAME and HF diet-induced hypertension of developmental origin.

The long-term effect of maternal dietary protein restriction on 5-HT1A receptor function and behavioral responses to stress in adulthood

Maternal nutrition impacts fetal development, and may play a role in determining resilience to stress and vulnerability to stress-precipitated psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression. In this study, we examined the effect of a reduction in maternal dietary protein during pregnancy on the brain neurochemistry and behavior of offspring. We focused specifically on the serotonin system, the 5-HT1A receptor and the responsivity of offspring as adults to stress. Dams were fed either a low protein diet (10% protein by weight) or isocaloric control diet (20% protein by weight). The low protein diet did not alter maternal food intake and body weight, or litter size and the average birth weight of male or female littermates. 5-HT1A receptor function, as measured by quantitative autoradiography of 8-OH-DPAT (1 μM)-stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding, was markedly reduced in hippocampus of weanling female, but not male offspring (postnatal day, PND 21) of dams fed the low protein diet. The number of serotonergic cell bodies in the rostral raphe, and 5-HT metabolism in the limbic system of weanling offspring was not altered by maternal low protein diet. The deficit in hippocampal 5-HT1A receptor function observed in weanling female offspring persisted into adulthood (PND 112), and was accompanied by an increased sensitivity to stress, specifically increased immobility during a 15-minute forced swim challenge and increased anorexia following 30-minute restraint (PND 97-100). The present work begins to uncover important future directions for understanding the early developmental origins of resilience to stress, and factors that may put individuals at greater risk for stress-related psychiatric disorders.

Paternal high-fat diet enhances offspring whole-body insulin sensitivity and skeletal muscle insulin signaling early in life

Evidence suggests that paternal diet can predispose offspring to metabolic dysfunction. Despite this knowledge, little is known regarding the effects of paternal high-fat feeding on offspring insulin sensitivity. The purpose of this study was to investigate for the first time the effects of paternal high-fat feeding on whole-body and skeletal muscle insulin action in young and adult offspring. At 4 weeks of age, founder C57BL6/N males (F0) were fed a high-fat diet or control diet for 12 weeks and then bred with females on a control diet. Offspring (F1) were euthanized at 6 weeks, 6 months, or 12 months and insulin-stimulated insulin signaling was measured ex vivo in isolated soleus muscle. At 6 weeks of age, paternal high fat offspring (HFO) had enhanced whole-body insulin sensitivity (35%, P < 0.05), as well as, increased insulin-stimulated skeletal muscle phosphorylation of Akt threonine 308 (70%, P < 0.05) and AS160 threonine 642 (80%, P < 0.05) compared to paternal control fed offspring (CFO), despite both offspring groups consuming standard chow. At 6 months of age, HFO had increased percent body fat compared to CFO (74%, P < 0.005) and whole-body and skeletal muscle insulin signaling normalized to CFO. Body fat was inversely related with insulin signaling in HFO, but not CFO. These findings suggest that paternal high-fat feeding contributes to enhanced whole-body and skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity in HFO early in life; however, these benefits are lost by early adulthood, potentially due to premature increases in body fat.

Maternal High Fructose Intake Increases the Vulnerability to Post-Weaning High-Fat Diet-Induced Programmed Hypertension in Male Offspring

Widespread consumption of high-fructose and high-fat diets relates to the global epidemic of hypertension. Hypertension may originate from early life by a combination of prenatal and postnatal nutritional insults. We examined whether maternal high-fructose diet increases vulnerability to post-weaning high-fructose or high-fat diets induced hypertension in adult offspring and determined the underlying mechanisms. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats received regular chow (ND) or chow supplemented with 60% fructose (HFR) during the entire pregnancy and lactation periods. Male offspring were onto either the regular chow, 60% fructose, or high-fat diet (HFA) from weaning to 12 weeks of age and assigned to four groups: ND/ND, HFR/ND, HFR/HFR, and HFR/HFA. Maternal high-fructose diet exacerbates post-weaning high-fat diet-induced programmed hypertension. Post-weaning high-fructose and high-fat diets similarly reduced Sirt4, Prkaa2, Prkag2, Ppara, Pparb, and Ppargc1a mRNA expression in offspring kidneys exposed to maternal high-fructose intake. Additionally, post-weaning high-fat diet significantly reduced renal mRNA levels of Ulk1, Atg5, and Nrf2 and induced greater oxidative stress than did high-fructose diet. Although maternal high-fructose intake increases soluble epoxide hydrolase (SEH) expression in the kidney, which was restored by post-weaning high-fructose and high-fat diets. Maternal high-fructose diet programs differential vulnerability to developing hypertension in male offspring in response to post-weaning high-fructose and high-fat diets. Our data implicated that specific therapy targeting on nutrient sensing signals, oxidative stress, and SEH may be a promising approach to prevent hypertension in children and mothers exposed to high-fructose and high-fat consumption.

Hitting a triple in the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease field: sucrose intake in adulthood increases fat content in the female but not in the male rat offspring of dams fed a gestational low-protein diet

The excessive consumption of carbohydrates is related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in infants and adults. The effect of combining maternal malnutrition and a high carbohydrate intake on the development of NAFLD in adulthood remains unknown. We therefore hypothesized that consumption of 5% sucrose by the offspring of dams fed a low-protein diet during pregnancy promotes liver fat accumulation and oxidative damage differently in females and males. To test this, 12-month-old female and male offspring of mothers fed a Control (C) or low-protein diet (Restricted, R) were provided with either tap water or 5% sucrose for a period of 10 weeks. Livers were excised to measure the fat content and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NTyr) immunostaining; serum samples were also obtained to measure the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA). Data were analyzed using a non-repeated measures three-way analysis of variance to determine significant differences (P<0.05) regarding to the interaction among maternal diet, sucrose consumption and sex. Results showed that the liver fat content of females from R mothers was higher than that of their male counterpart. Hepatic 3-NTyr immunostaining and serum MDA concentrations were not affected by the interaction involving maternal diet, sucrose consumption and sex. Otherwise, liver fat content was correlated with the hepatic 3-NTyr immunostaining and serum MDA concentrations only in females. Thus, sucrose intake in adulthood increases fat content in the female but not in the male rat offspring of dams fed with a low-protein diet during pregnancy. This research emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet during pregnancy and the influence of the diet on the adult offspring.

Hypothyroidism Reduces the Size of Ovarian Follicles and Promotes Hypertrophy of Periovarian Fat with Infiltration of Macrophages in Adult Rabbits

Ovarian failure is related to dyslipidemias and inflammation, as well as to hypertrophy and dysfunction of the visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Although hypothyroidism has been associated with obesity, dyslipidemias, and inflammation in humans and animals, its influence on the characteristics of ovarian follicles in adulthood is scarcely known. Control and hypothyroid rabbits were used to analyze the ovarian follicles, expression of aromatase in the ovary, serum concentration of lipids, leptin, and uric acid, size of adipocytes, and infiltration of macrophages in the periovarian VAT. Hypothyroidism did not affect the percentage of functional or atretic follicles. However, it reduced the size of primary, secondary, and tertiary follicles considered as large and the expression of aromatase in the ovary. This effect was associated with high serum concentrations of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). In addition, hypothyroidism induced hypertrophy of adipocytes and a major infiltration of CD68+ macrophages into the periovarian VAT. Our results suggest that the reduced size of ovarian follicles promoted by hypothyroidism could be associated with dyslipidemias, hypertrophy, and inflammation of the periovarian VAT. Present findings may be useful to understand the influence of hypothyroidism in the ovary function in adulthood.

Developmental Origins, Epigenetics, and Equity: Moving Upstream

The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease and the related science of epigenetics redefines the meaning of what constitutes upstream approaches to significant social and public health problems. An increasingly frequent concept being expressed is "When it comes to your health, your zip code may be more important than your genetic code". Epigenetics explains how the environment-our zip code-literally gets under our skin, creates biological changes that increase our vulnerability for disease, and even children's prospects for social success, over their life course and into future generations. This science requires us to rethink where disease comes from and the best way to promote health. It identifies the most fundamental social equity issue in our society: that initial social and biological disadvantage, established even prior to birth, and linked to the social experience of prior generations, is made worse by adverse environments throughout the life course. But at the same time, it provides hope because it tells us that a concerted focus on using public policy to improve our social, physical, and economic environments can ultimately change our biology and the trajectory of health and social success into future generations.

High Sucrose Intake Ameliorates the Accumulation of Hepatic Triacylglycerol Promoted by Restraint Stress in Young Rats

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disorder. Stress promotes the onset of the NAFLD with a concomitant increment in the activity of the hepatic 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD-1). However, the interaction between the stress and a carbohydrate-enriched diet for the development of NAFLD in young animals is unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of chronic stress on the hepatic triacylglycerol level of young rats fed or not with a high sucrose-diet. For doing this, 21-day old male Wistar rats were allocated into 4 groups: control (C), chronic restraint stress (St), high-sucrose diet (S30), and chronic restraint stress plus a 30 % sucrose diet (St + S30). Chronic restraint stress consisted of 1-hour daily session, 5 days per week and for 4 weeks. Rats were fed with a standard chow and tap water (C group) or 30 % sucrose diluted in water (S30 group). The St + S30 groups consumed less solid food but had an elevated visceral fat accumulation in comparison with the St group. The St group showed a high level of serum corticosterone and a high activity of the hepatic 11β-HSD-1 concomitantly to the augmentation of hepatic steatosis signs, a high hepatic triacylglycerol content, and hepatic oxidative stress. Conversely, the high-sucrose intake in stressed rats (St + S30 group) reduced the hepatic 11β-HSD-1 activity, the level of serum corticosterone, and the hepatic triacylglycerol content. Present findings show that a high-sucrose diet ameliorates the triacylglycerol accumulation in liver promoted by the restraint stress in young male rats.

Paternal obesity induces metabolic and sperm disturbances in male offspring that are exacerbated by their exposure to an "obesogenic" diet

Obesity and related comorbidities are becoming increasingly prevalent globally. In mice preconception paternal exposure to a high fat diet (HFD) impairs the metabolic and reproductive health of male offspring, despite their control diet (CD) consumption. However, offspring share lifestyle, including diet, with parents. We assessed if male offspring from HFD fathers have a heightened susceptibility to HFD-induced metabolic and reproductive derangements. This 2 × 2 design saw founder males (F0) and their offspring (F1) fed either a HFD or a nutritionally matched CD. Regardless of paternal diet, HFD fed male offspring had greater total body weight and adiposity. Offspring sired by a HFD male and fed a HFD were the heaviest, had the greatest adiposity and had the greatest concentration of serum cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, and NEFA compared with CD sired/fed littermates. A synergistic increase in serum insulin was unmasked by both father/son HFD consumption, concomitant with increased sera glucose. Either a paternal or offspring HFD was associated with similar reductions to offspring sperm motility. Whereas sperm ROS concentrations and sperm-oocyte binding saw detrimental effects of both F0 HFD and F1 HFD with an interaction evident between both, culminating in the most impaired sperm parameters in this group. This indicates that metabolic and fertility disturbances in male offspring sired by HFD fathers are exacerbated by a "second-hit" of exposure to the same obesogenic environment postnatally. If translatable to human health, this suggests that adverse reproductive and metabolic outcomes may be amplified across generations through a shared calorie dense diet, relevant to the current worldwide obesity epidemic.