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Published on: October 25, 2015
Leptin expression in offspring is programmed by nutrition in pregnancy
J E Eckert1, K L Gatford, B G Luxford
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia.
The Journal of Endocrinology
|June 1, 2000
Summary
Maternal nutrition during pregnancy influences offspring’s leptin levels. Increased feed intake in pregnant pigs led to higher leptin mRNA and protein in their piglets, impacting postnatal leptin expression.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Endocrinology
- Nutritional science
Background:
- Birth weight is a known factor influencing adult leptin concentrations.
- Maternal nutrition during gestation can impact fetal development and birth weight.
- Leptin plays a crucial role in regulating energy balance and metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that maternal feed intake during pregnancy alters leptin expression in offspring.
- To determine if increased maternal nutrition during a specific gestational period affects postnatal leptin levels.
- To examine the relationship between birth weight and subsequent leptin gene expression.
Main Methods:
- Female pigs were used as a model organism.
- Mothers were fed a restricted diet, with one group receiving 35% more feed during the second trimester of pregnancy.
- Leptin mRNA in adipose tissue and plasma leptin protein were measured in 59-day-old female offspring.
Main Results:
- Offspring from mothers with higher feed intake during pregnancy exhibited significantly higher leptin mRNA abundance in adipose tissue (P=0.015).
- Plasma leptin concentrations were also significantly elevated (P=0.01) in progeny of mothers with increased gestational feed intake.
- A negative correlation was observed between birth weight and leptin mRNA levels at 59 days of age (P=0.01).
Conclusions:
- Maternal nutrition during pregnancy can program postnatal leptin expression in offspring.
- Increased maternal feed intake during the second quarter of gestation leads to altered leptin expression in piglets.
- This study provides the first evidence of maternal nutrition-induced programming of leptin in offspring.
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