Influence of maternal periuterine and periovarian fat on reproductive performance and fetal growth in rats

Author(s)

MARIA EDUARDA P. GOMES ^[1] ; LUIGI M.J. DIDOMIZIO ; YURI K. SINZATO ^[3] ; VERÔNYCA G. PAULA ^[4] ; MAYSA R. SOUZA ; FRANCIANE Q. GALLEGO ^[6] ; VINÍCIUS S. BARCO ^[7] ; GUSTAVO T. VOLPATO ^[8] ; DÉBORA CRISTINA DAMASCENO ^[9]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tocoginecologia - Brasil

^[3] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tocoginecologia - Brasil

^[4] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tocoginecologia - Brasil

^[6] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tocoginecologia - Brasil

^[7] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tocoginecologia - Brasil

^[8] Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde - Brasil

^[9] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tocoginecologia - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências; v. 95, 2023-12-04.

Abstract

Abstract We aimed to evaluate how high-fat diet consumption can interfere with rat reproductive performance and fetal development. High-fat diet (HFD) was initiated in 30-day-old rats, distributed into two groups (n=7 animals/group): Rats receiving a standard diet and rats receiving HFD. At adulthood, the rats were mated, and on day 21 of pregnancy, the females were anesthetized, decapitated, and submitted to laparotomy to obtain visceral and periovarian adipose tissue. The uterine horns were exposed for analysis of maternal reproductive performance. The fetuses and placentas were weighed and analyzed. Pearson’s correlation test was used, and p<0.05 was considered significant. There was a significant positive correlation (HFD consumption x increased periovarian fat) and a negative correlation with the implantation, live fetus numbers and lower litter weight. Furthermore, the increased relative weight of periuterine fat was related to the lower number of live fetuses and litter weight. Regarding the fetal weight classification, there was a negative correlation between the relative weight of periovarian fat and the percentage of fetuses appropriate for gestational age and large for gestational age. Therefore, our findings show that HFD maternal intake negatively influenced on reproductive performance and fetal growth. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/25207-5 - Evaluation of offspring exposed to mildly diabetic intrauterine millieu, submitted to postnatal hyperlipid diet and treated with a mixture of calcium and vitamin D during pregnancy.
• Grantee: Débora Cristina Damasceno
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants