The consequences of maternal protein restriction on phenotypic and molecular aspects of the ovaries of young rat offspring

• Grant number: 24/22281-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Histology
• Principal Investigator: Luis Antonio Justulin Junior
• Grantee: Ana Luiza Silva de Abreu
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The concept of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) is gaining recognition within the scientific community. It suggests that the gestational and/or lactational environment can influence various organs and systems in the offspring throughout developmental biology. One experimental model used to study such conditions is Maternal Protein Restriction (MPR), which results in elevated maternal glucocorticoids, delayed early-life development, disruptions in folliculogenesis, fertility issues in both male and female offspring, and a heightened risk of developing metabolic diseases. Given the ovaries' essential roles in metabolism and reproduction, it is plausible to investigate the immediate effects of MPR on these organs, with the potential for transgenerational consequences. Thus, the aim of this project is to assess whether MPR affects the phenotypic and molecular characteristics of the ovaries in post-weaning female rats. To achieve this, Sprague Dawley rats will be used and divided into two groups: females born to mothers fed either a normoproteic diet (CTR, 17% protein) or a low-protein diet (GLLP, 6% protein) during gestation and lactation. The animals will be euthanized on postnatal day (PND) 21, and the ovaries will be collected for morphological and molecular analysis. The expected findings are that MPR will impact key molecular parameters in the ovaries of post-weaning offspring, potentially increasing the long-term risk of reproductive and metabolic disorders.