Study of the long-term impacts of the duration of lactation period on the maternal lipid metabolism in mice

• Grant number: 14/20390-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2015
• End date: June 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Gabriel Forato Anhê
• Grantee: Isabel Gouveia Adabo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Several medical studies demonstrate that the duration of the lactation period exerts long-term impacts on maternal metabolism. In general, these studies demonstrate that longer lactation inversely correlates with the maternal risk for metabolic syndrome. Mothers that breastfeed for short periods develop an inadequate profile of circulating lipids (high levels of LDL and low levels of HDL), higher levels of circulating TG, increased body weight, higher levels of blood pressure and increased risk of coronary disease. Although these correlations have been demonstrate by several studies in different populations, the mechanism through which lactation period impacts maternal lipid metabolism is still not described. For instance, it is not known if this inadequate lipid profile is connected to increased VDLD production and/or hepatic lipid accumulation. Thus, the present project aims to develop an experimental model that will allow mice to breastfeed for different time intervals after delivery. These mothers will be assigned to the following groups: Lac-0 - mice that will not breastfeed after delivery; Lac-10 - mice that will breastfeed for 10 days after weaning; Lac-21 - mice that will breastfeed for 21 days after delivery. Virgin age-matched mice will be used as controls. The mothers will be subjected to VLDL production tests and TG and total cholesterol determinations at different time-points after weaning (2, 4, 6 and 8 months). In parallel, the hepatic content of neutral lipids will be assessed 8 months after weaning.