In utero exposure to dexamethasone programs the development of the pancreatic beta- and alpha-cells during early postnatal life

Author(s)

Santos-Silva, Junia Carolina ^[1] ; da Silva, Priscilla Muniz Ribeiro ^[1] ; de Souza, Dailson Nogueira ^[1] ; Teixeira, Caio Jordao ^[1] ; Bordin, Silvana ^[2] ; Anhe, Gabriel Forato ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Fac Med Sci, Dept Pharmacol, 105 Alexander Flemming St, BR-13083881 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Physiol & Biophys, 1524 Prof Lineu Prestes Ave, ICB 1, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Life Sciences; v. 255, AUG 15 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Aims: The aim of the present study was to clarify if in utero exposure to DEX would affect the development of different types of pancreatic endocrine cells during postnatal life. Main methods: We investigated morphological and transcriptional features of both pancreatic beta-and alpha-cell populations within the pancreatic islets during the early postnatal life of rats born to mothers treated with DEX (0.1 mg/kg) from day 14 to 19 of pregnancy. Untreated pregnant Wistar rats of the same age (12-week-old) were used as control (CTL). Pups were euthanized on the 1st, 3rd and 21st (PND1, PND3 and PND21, respectively) days of life, regardless of sex. Serum insulin and glucagon levels were also evaluated. Key findings: Rats born to DEX-treated mothers exhibited increased pancreatic alpha-cell mass, circulating glucagon levels and Gcg, Pax6, MafB and Nkx2.2 expression. Rats born to DEX-treated mothers also presented a rise in serum insulin levels on the PND3 that was paralleled by reduced beta-cell mass. Such increase in serum insulin levels, instead, was associated with increased expression of genes associated to insulin secretion such as Gck and Slc2a2. Significance: Altogether, the present data reveals yet unknown changes in endocrine pancreas during early postnatal life of rats exposed to DEX in utero. Such data may contribute to the understanding of the metabolic features of rats born to DEX-treated mothers. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/23285-6 - Endocrine pancreas maturation and differentiation in offspring of females submitted to dexamethasone treatment during pregnancy
• Grantee: Junia Carolina Rebelo dos Santos Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• 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