A mismatch of fetal and postnatal nutrition leads to sex dependent differences in postnatal growth and blood glucose levels

Abstract

Undernutrition before birth followed by overnutrition in postnatal life leads to an increased risk for insulin resistance, visceral obesity, and glucose intolerance. Thus, we determined whether a mismatch of pre- and postnatal nutrition leads to sex dependent differences in factors related to the metabolic syndrome. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) was induced by placental insufficiency at day 14 of gestation in the rat. All dams were maintained on regular rodent chow (RC) or switched to a commercial high fat/high sucrose (HF/HS) diet at delivery. Pups were maintained on their respective diets after weaning. By 8 weeks of age exposure to postnatal HF/HS led to catch up growth in IUGR offspring relative to same sex RC counterpart. Blood glucose levels were significantly increased in control and IUGR on HF/HS relative to same sex, RC counterpart; yet the postnatal HF/HS further increased blood glucose levels in female IUGR relative to female control indicating sex differences in response to a mismatch of pre- and postnatal nutrition Body Weight (grams) RC HF/HS Male control 270±3 310±4* Male IUGR 241±10‡ 268±17* Female control 176±5 219±7* Female IUGR 171±5 190±8* Blood Glucose (mg/dL) Male control 131±10 226±22* Male IUGR 116±8 222±21* Female control 105±12 197±43* Female IUGR 128±16 321±64*† * P<0.05 vs. same sex, RC counterpart ‡ P<0.05 vs. control same sex, RC † P<0.05 vs. female control HF/HS