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A low-protein isocaloric diet during gestation affects brain development and alters permanently cerebral cortex blood
N Bennis-Taleb1, C Remacle, J J Hoet
1Laboratoire de Biochimie et Pharmacognosie, Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université Moulay Ismaïl, Meknès, Maroc.
Insights
Early protein restriction in pregnant rats led to low birth weight and reduced brain vascularization in offspring. This brain vascularization deficit persisted into adulthood, unlike pancreas vascularization, highlighting long-term impacts of fetal nutrition.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Low birth weight in humans is linked to adult diseases like stroke, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
- Early life nutrition significantly influences long-term health outcomes and organ development.
- Protein restriction during gestation can induce low birth weight and may affect organ vascularization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of early protein restriction, causing low birth weight in rats, on brain and endocrine pancreas vascularization at birth.
- To determine if these vascularization changes persist into adulthood.
- To assess the effects of postnatal diet on these long-term vascularization patterns.
Main Methods:
- Pregnant rats were fed isocaloric diets with either 20% (control) or 8% protein.
- Offspring exposed to protein restriction (low protein pups) were nursed by dams on either 8% or 20% protein diets, with diets maintained until adulthood.
- Cerebral cortex and islets of Langerhans vascularization were analyzed using morphometry in neonates and adults. Body, brain weights, and brain tissue composition were also measured.
Main Results:
- Pups from dams fed an 8% protein diet exhibited reduced cerebral cortex vascularization at 3 days old, which persisted into adulthood regardless of postnatal diet.
- In contrast, vascularization of the islets of Langerhans was reduced at birth but normalized in adulthood with a normal postnatal diet.
- Low protein pups and adults showed lower body and brain weights. Brain tissue composition (DNA, protein, cholesterol, phospholipids) was altered in low protein adults but could be restored by a normal postnatal diet.
Conclusions:
- Early protein restriction during fetal development in rats leads to reduced cerebral cortex vascularization that is permanent throughout life.
- The brain's vascularization is particularly susceptible to long-term deficits from fetal malnutrition, unlike the endocrine pancreas.
- These findings underscore the critical role of maternal nutrition during gestation for lifelong brain health and vascular integrity.
Abstract:
In humans, low birth weight is associated with nonfatal stroke, cardiovascular disease and diabetes at adulthood. The aim of this study was to investigate in rats the effect of early protein restriction, inducing low birth weight, on brain and endocrine pancreas vascularization at birth and to study if such alterations lasted until adulthood. Pregnant rats were fed either 20 or 8% protein isocaloric diets. Control newborns were nursed by their dams fed the 20% protein diet and low protein (LP) pups by dams fed either the 8 or 20% protein diet. The diets given during lactation were maintained until adulthood. The blood vessel density of cerebral cortex analyzed by morphometry in 3-d-old pups from dams fed the 8% protein diet was lower than in control (C). It remained lower at adulthood whether a LP or a C diet was given postnatally. Reduction of vascularization at adulthood induced by the LP diet limited to fetal life seems characteristic for the brain since vascularization of islets of Langerhans was reduced in neonates but normalized at adulthood by a C diet postnatally. Body and brain weights were lower in LP pups and adults. DNA concentration was lower in forebrain and higher in cerebellum in LP pups. In brain of LP adults, DNA, protein, cholesterol and phospholipid concentrations were lower and were restored at adulthood by a normal diet after birth. In conclusion, cerebral cortex of offspring exposed to a LP isocaloric diet during fetal development showed reduced vascularization which remained throughout life.