Long-term effect of maternal hyperglycemia and postnatal overfeeding on offsprings of rats

Abstract

Objective To establish the animal model of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM to observe the long-term effect of maternal hyperglycemia and postnatal overfeeding on the metabolism of offsprings. Methods Streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/kg) was administered to Wistar rats intraperitoneally on the 5th day of gestation to induce animal GDM model. Offsprings were allocated into 3 groups: Group CP (n=8) were exposed to normal maternal hyperglycemic environment, group DP-1 (n=8) exposed to intrauterine hyperglycemia and every 8 pups breast-fed by one GMD mother and group DP-2 exposed to intrauterine hyperglycemia and every 4 pups breast-fed by one GDM mother (n=8). Weight gain between 3-10 weeks were recorded, OGTT at 10 weeks and hyperinsulinemia-euglycemia clamp technique was performed, and plasma insulin level was measured by ELISA at 11 weeks. Results Offsprings in DP-1 and DP-2 group had greater weight gain than group CP at 3-10 weeks after birth [(6.68±1.70)% and (6.03±1.85)% vs (4. 74±0.93)%, P 0. 05). The baseline plasma insulin level was lower in the DP-1 group than in the DP-2 and CP group [(0. 76± 0. 37)μg/L vs (1.13±0. 25)μg/L and (1.06±0. 14)μg/L](P<0. 05). GIR60-120 was higher in DP-1 Offsprings of Wistar rats, exposed to intrauterine hyperglycemia, experience excessive weight gain at 3-10 weeks after birth. Overfeeding in early life expedites the decrease of insulin sensitivity in these offspings. Key words: Diabetes mellitus, experimental; Diabetes, gestational; Rats; Animals, newborn; Weight gain