Effect of sexual dimorphism on adaptive responses of skeletal muscle in a model of neonatal Vitamin D deficiency in rats

• Grant number: 19/09814-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2019
• End date: May 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Metabolism and Bioenergetics
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Carlos Carvalho Navegantes
• Grantee: João Antônio Turatti
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/10089-2 - Neural, hormonal and nutritional control of autophagy, AP.TEM

Abstract

Intrauterine vitamin D (Vit D) deficiency has been associated with metabolic abnormalities in adult offspring including obesity and diabetes. However, much little is known whether or not maternal levels of Vit. D affect postnatal development of the skeletal muscles and whether these effects vary according to the sex of the animal. Therefore, the aim of this work is to investigate the temporal morphological alterations of skeletal muscles of rats in a model of neonatal nutritional deficiency programming of Vit. D. For this, Wistar Hannover rats with 21, 90 and 180 days of life, kept on a standard diet, daughters of rats treated with a modified diet without Vit. D or standard diet during pregnancy and lactation. Growth rate will be assessed by determining total body mass. At the day of sacrifice, animals will be anesthetized, weighed and submitted to laparotomy for blood collection and bilateral removal of the soleus muscles (rich in oxidative fiber type I) and EDL (rich in type II glycolytic fibers). For the characterization of the experimental model, the heart, as well as white adipose tissue (epididimal and retroperitoneal) and brown, will also be removed and weighed. Muscles will be appropriately frozen for evaluation of cross-sectional area and fiber typing in histological sections by immunofluorescence technique with specific markers (dystrophin, MyHCIIA, MyHCIIx/IIB). These results will be compared to the male animals obtained in parallel experiments.