Late-in-life Exercise Ameliorates the Aging Trajectory Metabolism Programmed by Maternal Obesity in Rats: It is Never Too Late

Abstract

BackgroundMaternal obesity (MO) has been shown to adversely affect metabolic, oxidative, reproductive, and cognitive function in offspring. However, it is unclear whether lifestyle modification can ameliorate the metabolic and organ dysfunction programmed by MO and prevent the effects of metabolic syndrome in adulthood. This study aimed to evaluate whether moderate voluntary exercise in the offspring of rats born to obese mothers can ameliorate the adverse effects of MO programming on metabolism and liver function in mid-adulthood. MethodsOffspring of control (CF1) and MOF1 mothers were fed with a control diet from weaning. Adult males and females participated in 15 min exercise sessions five days/week. Metabolic parameters were analyzed before and after the exercise intervention. Liver oxidative stress biomarkers and antioxidant enzymes were analyzed before and after the intervention. ResultsMales showed that CF1ex ran longer than MOF1ex and increased the distance covered. In contrast, females in both groups ran similar distances and remained constant but ran further distances than males. At PND 300 and 450, male and female MOF1ex had higher leptin, triglycerides, insulin, and HOMA-IR levels than CF1. However, male MOF1ex had lower triglycerides, insulin, and HOMA-IR levels than MOF1. Improvements in liver fat and antioxidant enzymes were observed in CF1ex and MOF1ex males and females compared to their respective CF1 and MOF1 groups. ConclusionThese findings suggest that moderate voluntary exercise, even when started in mid-adulthood, can improve metabolic outcomes and delay accelerated metabolic aging in MO-programmed rats in a sex-dependent manner.