Abstract
During pregnancy and lactation periods there are many metabolic adaptations in the liver, and mammary gland (MG) of the dam to use different metabolic fuels. The aim of the study was to analyze these adaptations on the expression of genes of glucose, lipid and amino acid metabolism in the liver and MG of pregnant and lactating rats fed graded concentrations of dietary protein (10, 20 or 30%). During pregnancy and lactation the expression of lipogenic (SREBP‐1, ACC and FAS), and glycolytic (PK) genes increased as the amount of dietary protein decreased, but hepatic lipogenesis was higher during lactation than pregnancy. The expression of amino acid degrading enzymes (SDH) and gluconeogenic (PEPCK) genes increased as the concentration of dietary increased during pregnancy. In the lactation period the expression of SDH did not increase with the amount of dietary protein. In contrast in the MG the expression of lipogenic, amino acid transport (SNAT2) and mTOR genes increased overtime independently of the amount of dietary protein whereas there was a reduced expression of lipolytic (HSL) and lipid oxidation (CPT‐1) genes. These results indicate that the excess of amino acids provide energy for the hepatic energy needs during gestation and lactation. The MG showed an increase fatty acids and protein synthesis to sustain the needs of the pups regardless of the amount of dietary protein during lactation.
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