Maternal weight gain induced by an obesogenic diet affects adipose accumulation, liver weight, and insulin homeostasis in the rat offspring depending on the sex.

backgroundThe aim of this research was to analyze the influence of the maternal dietary intake before pregnancy, as well as the parental impact on the response to a transgenerational high-fat-diet in rats.

methodsTen female Wistar rats were fed a standard or a high-fat-sucrose (HFS) diet in the 8 weeks prior to pregnancy. Adult offsprings were assigned to a control or obesogenic diet for 8 weeks. Then, rat tissues and plasma samples were collected for analyzing tissue weight, liver triglycerides, and biochemical parameters such as triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, glucose, and insulin levels.

resultsThe offspring of rats fed a HFS diet gained less weight when they were fed the same diet than those fed a HFS diet combined with maternal control diet. Insulin levels were higher in rats fed a HFS diet (p<0.05) in both sexes; however, maternal HFS diet reversed, partially in males and total- ly in females, this hormonal imbalance. In male newborns, diet-induced maternal weight gain before pregnancy significantly influenced visceral (R 2 =0.373) and subcutaneous (R 2 =0.239) adipose deposition as well as liver weight (R 2 =0.130). Paternal genetic make-up was also a relevant factor affecting adiposity in both sexes (R 2 =0.333 in visceral fat; R 2 =0.183 in subcutaneous fat in males, and 0.292 and 0.282, respectively in females) as well as plasma triglycerides (R 2 =0.193 in males and R 2 =0.251 in females).

conclusionsThe genetic parental background and pre-natal maternal diet are important factors in the response to a hypercaloric diet and affect body composition and glucose homeostasis traits, including insulin secretion and homeostatic model assessment index.