Maternal diet and insulin secretion in islets of lactating, nonlactating, and young rats

The effects of dietary phosphorus (P) on insulin secretion by pancreatic islets of rats at peak lactation (14 days after parturition) and by islets of nonlactating previously pregnant rats have been determined. In addition, the effects of changed dietary P in the maternal diet on insulin secretion by islets of the 1- and 14-day-old offspring were studied. Lactating rats had increased food intake relative to nonlactating rats and correspondingly increased P intake on the 0.4 and 0.7% P diets. Serum P levels were elevated in lactating rats consuming the 0.7% P feed relative to those on the 0.4% P feed and also relative to the nonlactating rats on the 0.7% P feed. Lactating rats had decreased bone calcium compared with the nonlactating rats. Islets from lactating rats on the 0.7% P feed secreted more insulin in response to glucose or to 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) than lactating rats on the 0.4% P feed. Additionally, lactating rats on the 0.7% P feed secreted more insulin in response to glucose than nonlactating rats on the same 0.7% P feed. The maternal diet had no influence on the endocrine pancreatic responses of the 1- and 14-day-old offspring in response to glucose or IBMX.