Effects of maternal vitamin D deficiency on brown adipose tissue development and function in rat offspring

• Grant number: 19/19993-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2019
• End date: November 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Metabolism and Bioenergetics
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Carlos Carvalho Navegantes
• Grantee: Matheus Leonardo Moro
• 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

Vitamin D acts on differents body tissues and your deficiency increases the risk of development several chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus and obesity. Although there is evidence that vitamin D receptor (VDR) knockout animals show increased energy expenditure, the physiological importance of this hormone in brown adipose tissue (TAM), the main heat producing site in the body, is still little known. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of maternal vitamin D deficiency, during pregnancy and lactation, on the development and function of rat offspring brown adipose tissue. With the use of Western blot and RT-PCR techniques, protein content and gene transcription of TAM differentiation (PRDM16 e CBEPA) and termogensis (UCP-1) markers will be investigated in animals exposed or not to cold. These results may contribute to a better undestanding of the role of the maternal vitamin D deficiency in the physiology of brown adipose tissue and the modulation of energy expenditure. (AU)