Abstract
Background:
This experimental study aims to investigate the impact of combinations of prenatal and postnatal food manipulation on body composition in rat offspring.
Methods:
On day 12 of gestation, 100 timed pregnant rats were randomized into two nutritional groups: standard laboratory and 50% starved. Pups born to starved mothers were subdivided, based on birthweight (BiW), into fetal growth restricted (FGR) and non-FGR. Pups were born on day 21, cross-fostered, then left undisturbed lactating until the 26th postnatal day when they underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examination.
Results:
Prenatally control-fed animals had a significantly greater body weight at 26 d postnatally than the prenatally starved groups, irrespective of their postnatal diet (P < 0.001). Postnatal control diet was associated with significantly increased abdominal and total fat in non-FGR compared to FGR rats (P < 0.001). non-FGR/CONTROL rats showed higher values of abdominal fat than prenatally starved animals that were starved postnatally irrespective of their birth weight (P < 0.001). Postnatal control diet significantly increased total bone mineral content (BMC), head BMC, head area, abdominal BMC in non-FGR compared to FGR rats (P < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Interaction between prenatal and postnatal nutrition affects growth, abdominal adiposity, and bone accrual in Wistar rats’ offspring at 26 d of life.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude and deep appreciation to E. Dousi and L. Konaris for expert technical assistance during the experiments.
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Eleftheriades, M., Vafaei, H., Dontas, I. et al. Assessment of body composition in Wistar rat offspring by DXA in relation to prenatal and postnatal nutritional manipulation. Pediatr Res 80, 319–325 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2016.61
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2016.61
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