BACKGROUND: Maternal nutrition during pregnancy or lactation may affect the chance of offspring becoming obese as adults, but little is known regarding the possible role of maternal nutrition before conception. In this study, we investigate how variable protein and carbohydrate content of the diet consumed before pregnancy affects fat deposition and gut dimensions of offspring mice. METHODS: Eight-week-old female mice (C57BL/6JBom) were fed isocaloric low protein (8.4% protein; LP), standard protein (21.5% protein; ST) or high protein (44.2% protein; HP) diets. After 8 weeks of feeding, females were mated and fed a standard laboratory chow diet (22.5% protein) throughout periods of mating, gestation, lactation and weaning. Offspring mice were fed the same standard diet up to 46 days of age. Then offspring were killed and measures of dissected fat deposits and of the digestive system were taken. RESULTS: Fat deposition of the offspring was significantly affected by preconceptional maternal nutrition and the effects differed between sexes. Male offspring deposited most fat when mothers were fed the LP diet, whereas female offspring deposited most fat when mothers were fed the ST diet. The mass and length of the digestive organs were affected by preconceptional maternal nutrition. Total gut from pyloric sphincter to anus was significantly shorter and dry mass was heavier in mice whose mothers were fed LP diets compared with offspring of mothers fed ST diets or HP diets. There was no significant effect of maternal nutrition on dry mass of the stomach or ceca. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that preconceptional nutrition can have important influence on several body features of offspring in mice, including body composition and dimensions of the digestive system.
BACKGROUND: Maternal nutrition during pregnancy or lactation may affect the chance of offspring becoming obese as adults, but little is known regarding the possible role of maternal nutrition before conception. In this study, we investigate how variable protein and carbohydrate content of the diet consumed before pregnancy affects fat deposition and gut dimensions of offspring mice. METHODS: Eight-week-old female mice (C57BL/6JBom) were fed isocaloric low protein (8.4% protein; LP), standard protein (21.5% protein; ST) or high protein (44.2% protein; HP) diets. After 8 weeks of feeding, females were mated and fed a standard laboratory chow diet (22.5% protein) throughout periods of mating, gestation, lactation and weaning. Offspring mice were fed the same standard diet up to 46 days of age. Then offspring were killed and measures of dissected fat deposits and of the digestive system were taken. RESULTS: Fat deposition of the offspring was significantly affected by preconceptional maternal nutrition and the effects differed between sexes. Male offspring deposited most fat when mothers were fed the LP diet, whereas female offspring deposited most fat when mothers were fed the ST diet. The mass and length of the digestive organs were affected by preconceptional maternal nutrition. Total gut from pyloric sphincter to anus was significantly shorter and dry mass was heavier in mice whose mothers were fed LP diets compared with offspring of mothers fed ST diets or HP diets. There was no significant effect of maternal nutrition on dry mass of the stomach or ceca. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that preconceptional nutrition can have important influence on several body features of offspring in mice, including body composition and dimensions of the digestive system.
Authors: Shu-E Soh; See Ling Loy; Evelyn Xiu Ling Loo; Sharon Ng; Mya Thway Tint; Shiao-Yng Chan; Jonathan Yinhao Huang; Fabian Yap; Kok Hian Tan; Bernard S M Chern; Heng Hao Tan; Michael J Meaney; Neerja Karnani; Keith M Godfrey; Yung Seng Lee; Jerry Kok Yen Chan; Peter D Gluckman; Yap-Seng Chong; Lynette Pei-Chi Shek; Johan G Eriksson; Airu Chia; Anna Magdalena Fogel; Anne Eng Neo Goh; Anne Hin Yee Chu; Anne Rifkin-Graboi; Anqi Qiu; Bee Wah Lee; Bobby Kyungbeom Cheon; Candida Vaz; Christiani Jeyakumar Henry; Ciaran Gerard Forde; Claudia Chi; Dawn Xin Ping Koh; Desiree Y Phua; Doris Ngiuk Lan Loh; Elaine Phaik Ling Quah; Elizabeth Huiwen Tham; Evelyn Chung Ning Law; Faidon Magkos; Falk Mueller-Riemenschneider; George Seow Heong Yeo; Hannah Ee Juen Yong; Helen Yu Chen; Heng Hao Tan; Hong Pan; Hugo P S van Bever; Hui Min Tan; Izzuddin Bin Mohd Aris; Jeannie Tay; Jerry Kok Yen Chan; Jia Xu; Joanne Su-Yin Yoong; Johan Gunnar Eriksson; Jonathan Tze Liang Choo; Jonathan Y Bernard; Jonathan Yinhao Huang; Jun Shi Lai; Karen Mei Ling Tan; Keith M Godfrey; Kenneth Yung Chiang Kwek; Keri McCrickerd; Kothandaraman Narasimhan; Kok Wee Chong; Kuan Jin Lee; Li Chen; Lieng Hsi Ling; Ling-Wei Chen; Lourdes Mary Daniel; Lynette Pei-Chi Shek; Marielle V Fortier; Mary Foong-Fong Chong; Mei Chien Chua; Melvin Khee-Shing Leow; Michelle Zhi Ling Kee; Min Gong; Mya Thway Tint; Navin Michael; Ngee Lek; Oon Hoe Teoh; Priti Mishra; Queenie Ling Jun Li; Sambasivam Sendhil Velan; Seng Bin Ang; Shirong Cai; Si Hui Goh; Sok Bee Lim; Stella Tsotsi; Stephen Chin-Ying Hsu; Sue-Anne Ee Shiow Toh; Suresh Anand Sadananthan; Teng Hong Tan; Tong Wei Yew; Varsha Gupta; Victor Samuel Rajadurai; Wee Meng Han; Wei Wei Pang; Wen Lun Yuan; Yanan Zhu; Yin Bun Cheung; Yiong Huak Chan; Zai Ru Cheng Journal: Eur J Epidemiol Date: 2020-11-21 Impact factor: 8.082