Metabolic repercussions in the offspring born to rats subjected to daytime restricted feeding during pregnancy and lactation

• Grant number: 12/09582-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2012
• End date: August 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Gabriel Forato Anhê
• Grantee: Rubia Isler Mancuso
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The circadian variation in food intake is inwardly coupled to endocrine and metabolic rhythms. Epidemiological data show that subjects who eat 50% of their daily food intake during the night are highly predisposed to obesity. In addition, these patients show increased morning cortisol levels, morning anorexia, and low nocturnal melatonin levels. Similar to humans, rodents subjected to day-restricted feeding display increased body weight gain and reduced melatonin levels. Thus, published data support the proposition that eating during the non-physiological phase of the light/dark cycle favors body weight gain and disrupts melatonin production. Data from our lab show that the absence of maternal melatonin during pregnancy and lactation causes glucose intolerance in the offspring. Given this background, the present project aims to verify whether day-restricted feeding during pregnancy and lactation programs changes glucose homeostasis in offspring. To achieve this goal, the offspring born to mothers fed ad libitum, only during the day or only during the night will be subjected to glucose, insulin, and pyruvate tolerance tests.(AU)