The Effects of Maternal High Fat Diet on the Lingual CD36 Lipid Sensors of the Offspring Sprague Dawley Rats

Abstract

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that CD36 lingual fat sensor has a vital role in fat sensation and high fat diet (HFD) causes dysfunctions in oro-gustatory lipid sensors. Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of HFD during maternal and /or maturation period on lingual CD36 expression in offspring rats. Methods: Initially, female Sprague Dawley rats were familiarized to experimental diets. After the mating period, pregnant rats were fed with control (C) and HFD during the maternal period. Then, offsprings in each group were fed with C and HFD during the maturation period (120 days). Daily caloric intake and weekly weight measurements of the offspring rats were followed. The plasma insulin and leptin levels were determined with ELISA. Blood glucose and triglyceride levels were measured. The protein and mRNA expressions of CD36 in the circumvallate papillae (CVP) were determined by western blotting, immunofluorescence, and RT-PCR. Also, alpha-gustducin was used as taste marker. Results: According to biochemical measurements, HFD/HFD group offsprings have significantly increased plasma insulin and leptin concentrations compared to C/C group (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). CD36 protein expressions in CVP were significantly lower in HFD/HFD than C/HFD and HFD/C groups (p<0.05). Consistently, CD36 in taste buds had weak immunofluorescence signal in HFD/HFD group. However, mRNA transcripts level of CD36 in HFD/HFD group were significantly higher than C/HFD group (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that HFD exposure during both maternal and/or maturation period may affect the expression of lingual taste sensor level.