Maternal high fat diet: influences on maternal behavior and offspring development.

Author(s)

Marianne Orlandini Klein

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2016-07-22

Examining board members

Luciano Freitas Felicio; Jackson Cioni Bittencourt; Daniela Cristina Ceccatto Gerardin Cantamessa; José Donato Júnior; Helenice de Souza Spinosa

• Advisor: Luciano Freitas Felicio

Abstract

A maternal nutrition high in fat may impair offspring development and adulthood, increasing the risk to develop metabolic alterations and obesity, and may modify the opioids central signaling. However, studies investigating maternal high fat (HF) diet influences on maternal behavior and offspring development are inconclusive. This study aimed to evaluate the influences of a diet high in fat on mother-pup interaction, in two generations, and its early and late effects in the offspring, connecting them to the opioid system. HF dams show decreased milk ejections and higher expression of opioid receptors in the hypothalamus. Overall, HF offspring had higher cholesterol levels, less serum leptin, higher expression of peptides related to food intake, and were lighter. Therefore, maternal intake of HF diet promoted metabolic, behavioral and gene expression alterations in the mother and her offspring, even though these animals did not become obese. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/07378-6 - Maternal high fat diet: influences on maternal behavior and offspring development
• Grantee: Marianne Orlandini Klein
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate