Fetal baboon sex-specific outcomes in adipocyte differentiation at 0.9 gestation in response to moderate maternal nutrient reduction

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate in vitro adipocyte differentiation in baboon fetuses in response to reduced maternal nutrition.DesignCross-sectional comparison of adipocyte differentiation in normally grown fetuses and fetuses of pregnant baboons fed 70% control global diet from 30 days of pregnancy to term.SubjectsControl (CTR) fetuses of ad libitum fed mothers (5 females and 5 males) and fetuses of mothers fed the 70% global diet eaten by CTR (MNR, 5 females and 5 males). The expression of genes/proteins involved in adipogenesis (PPARγ, FABP4 and adiponectin) and brown adipose tissue development (UCP1, TBX15 and COXIV) were determined in in vitro differentiated stromal-vascular cultures from subcutaneous abdominal, subcutaneous femoral, and omental adipose tissue depots. Adipocyte number per area (mm2) was determined histologically to assist in evaluating adipocyte size.ResultsMaternal suboptimal nutrition suppressed growth of male but not female fetuses and led to adipocyte hypertrophy accompanied by increased markers of white and particularly brown-type adipogenesis in male but not female fetuses.ConclusionAdipose tissue responses to fetal nonhuman primate under nutrition are sexually dimorphic. While female fetuses adapt adequately, males enhance pathways involved in white and brown adipose tissue development but are unable to compensate for a delayed development of adipose tissue associated with intrauterine growth restriction. These differences need to be considered when assessing developmental programming of adiposity in response to sub-optimal maternal nutrition.