The Effect of Maternal Intact Protein- and Amino Acid-Based Diets on Development of Food Intake Regulatory Systems and Body Weight in Dams and Male Offspring of Wistar Rats.

Alireza Jahan-Mihan

doi:10.3390/ijms20071690

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine the effect of maternal and weaning intact protein- and amino acid-based diets on regulation of food intake, intake regulatory hormones, and body weight in dams and their male offspring. Pregnant Wistar rats were allocated to two groups (n = 12) and were fed either an intact protein diet (IPD) or mixed amino acid diet (AAD) from day 3 of gestation throughout gestation and lactation. Male offspring were weaned to either an IPD or AAD for 18 weeks. Food intake (FI) and body weight (BW) were measured weekly. Results: In dams, the AAD group had lower FI and BW in the post-partum period compared with the IPD group. In pups born to AAD dams, birth weight and BW were lower. However, the percentage of fat and lean mass were not affected. Food intake was influenced by maternal diet and was higher in pups born to IPD dams throughout post-weaning. Short-term FI in response to protein preloads was lower in pups born to AAD dams in 1 h. Fasting plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, and ghrelin were not influenced by either maternal or weaning diet. However, peptide YY (PYY) was higher in pups born to IPD dams at weaning. Conclusions: The physicochemical properties of proteins fed during pregnancy and lactation had determining effects on the body weight and development of food intake regulatory systems in offspring. Maternal AAD resulted in lower BW in dams and lower birth weight and post-weaning BWs in pups compared with maternal IPD which was consistent with their lower FI.

Highlights

Dietary proteins fed during gestation, lactation or both alters the phenotype of offspring in humans and animals [1]
We previously reported that pups born to dams fed a soy protein-based diet had higher body weight (BW) at 14 weeks post-weaning compared with those born to dams fed a casein-based diet [13]
We previously reported that the source of protein in the maternal diet altered short-term food intake in response to protein preloads along with alteration in food intake suppression induced by cholecystokinin (CCK) and hypothalamic gene expression of agouti-related protein (AgRP) receptors [14]

Summary

Introduction

Dietary proteins fed during gestation, lactation or both alters the phenotype of offspring in humans and animals [1]. It is suggested that the source of proteins in maternal diets can be a factor influencing the development of metabolic and physiologic regulatory systems in offspring [1]. We previously reported that pups born to dams fed a soy protein-based diet had higher body weight (BW) at 14 weeks post-weaning compared with those born to dams fed a casein-based diet [13]. Food intake (FI) was higher in offspring born to dams fed a soy protein diet in the post-weaning period [14,15]. Source of protein in the weaning diet can be a factor influencing the outcomes of maternal protein-restricted diets [16]

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