The absence of lactation after pregnancy induces long-term lipid accumulation in maternal liver of mice

Author(s):Show less -

Vicente, Julia Modesto ^[1] ; Teixeira, Caio Jordao ^[1] ; Santos-Silva, Junia Carolina ^[1] ; de Souza, Dailson Nogueira ^[1] ; Tobar, Natalia ^[2] ; Furtuoso, Fabiola Sales ^[1] ; Adabo, Isabel Gouveia ^[1] ; Sodre, Frhancielly Shirley ^[3] ; Murata, Gilson ^[3] ; Bordin, Silvana ^[3] ; Anhe, Gabriel Forato ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Pharmacol, Fac Med Sci, 105 Alexander Fleming St, BR-13084971 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Radiol, Fac Med Sci, BR-13084971 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Physiol & Biophys, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Life Sciences; v. 217, p. 261-270, JAN 15 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Aims: The present investigation evaluated whether pregnancy followed by lactation exerts long-term impacts on maternal hepatic lipid metabolism. Main methods: Female mice were subjected to two pregnancies, after which they were either allowed to breastfeed their pups for 21 days (L21) or had their litter removed (L0). Age-matched virgin mice were used as controls (CTL). Three months after the second delivery, serum was collected for lipid profiling, and fragments of liver were used to assess lipid content and to evaluate the key steps of de novo non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) synthesis, esterification and beta-oxidation, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) assembly and secretion and autophagy. Key findings: L0 exhibited a significant increase in hepatic TG and reduced apolipoprotein B-100 (ApoB-100) expression. L21 mice had increased ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) activity and reduced acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) phosphorylation but no increased hepatic TG. On the other hand, L21 mice had reduced hepatic sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1/p62) levels. Increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and hepatic apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA-1) expression were found exclusively in L21. Significance: The present study reveals that long-term hepatic lipid accumulation is induced by the history of pregnancy without lactation. On the other hand, reduced SQSTM1/p62 levels indicate that increased autophagic flux during life may prevent hepatic fat in dams subjected to lactation. Lactation after pregnancy is also obligatory for a long-term increase in maternal HDL. The present data may contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms leading to elevated cardiometabolic risk in women limited to short periods of lactation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/07607-8 - OCRC - Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center
• Grantee: Licio Augusto Velloso
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 15/12680-1 - Lon-term impacts of breastfeeding on maternal metabolism: Participation of microRNAs
• Grantee: Gabriel Forato Anhê
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants