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Torres PJ, Luque EM, Di Giorgio NP, Ramírez ND, Ponzio MF, Cantarelli V, Carlini VP, Lux-Lantos V, Martini AC. Fetal Programming Effects of a Mild Food Restriction During Pregnancy in Mice: How Does It Compare to Intragestational Ghrelin Administration? Reprod Sci 2021; 28:3547-3561. [PMID: 33856666 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-021-00574-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
To explore in mice if a 15% food restriction protocol during pregnancy programs the offspring postnatal development, with emphasis on reproductive function, and to assess if ghrelin (Ghrl) administration to mouse dams exerts effects that mimic those obtained under mild caloric restriction. Mice were 15% food-restricted, injected with 4 nmol/animal/day of Ghrl, or injected with the vehicle (control) thorough pregnancy. After birth, the pups did not receive further treatment. Pups born from food-restricted dams (FR pups) were lighter than Ghrl pups at birth, but reached normal weight at adulthood. Ghrl pups were heavier at birth and gained more weight than control pups (C pups). This effect was not associated with plasma IGF-1. FR pups showed a delay in pinna detachment and eye opening, while an advance was observed in Ghrl pups. FR pups showed also impairment in the surface-righting reflex. In both female FR and Ghrl pups, there was an advance in vaginal opening and, in adulthood, FR pups showed a significant decrease in their own litter size and plasma progesterone, and an increase in embryo loss. A delay in testicular descent was evident in male Ghrl pups. Changes in puberty onset were not associated with differences in the expression of Kiss1 in hypothalamic nuclei. Finally, in adulthood, FR pups showed a significant decrease in sperm quality. In conclusion, a mild food restriction thorough gestation exerted programming effects on the offspring, affecting also their reproductive function in adulthood. These effects were not similar to those of intragestational Ghrl administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Javier Torres
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, e Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA; CONICET-UNC), Santa Rosa 1085, X5000ESU, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Eugenia Mercedes Luque
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, e Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA; CONICET-UNC), Santa Rosa 1085, X5000ESU, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Noelia Paula Di Giorgio
- Laboratorio de Neuroendocrinología, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, (IBYME; CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, Buenos Aires, C1428ADN, Argentina
| | - Nicolás David Ramírez
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, e Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA; CONICET-UNC), Santa Rosa 1085, X5000ESU, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Marina Flavia Ponzio
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, e Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA; CONICET-UNC), Santa Rosa 1085, X5000ESU, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Verónica Cantarelli
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, e Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA; CONICET-UNC), Santa Rosa 1085, X5000ESU, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Valeria Paola Carlini
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, e Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA; CONICET-UNC), Santa Rosa 1085, X5000ESU, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Victoria Lux-Lantos
- Laboratorio de Neuroendocrinología, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, (IBYME; CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, Buenos Aires, C1428ADN, Argentina
| | - Ana Carolina Martini
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, e Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA; CONICET-UNC), Santa Rosa 1085, X5000ESU, Córdoba, Argentina.
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