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Maternal undernutrition programs offspring adrenal expression of steroidogenic enzymes

Naseem M Khorram1, Thomas R Magee, Chen Wang

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90502, USA. okhorram@obgyn.humc.edu

Reproductive Sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.)
|May 14, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Maternal undernutrition impacts adrenal steroidogenic enzymes in mothers and offspring. In utero undernutrition globally suppresses enzymes in mothers and newborns, with gender-specific changes in adults, suggesting altered stress responses.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Maternal nutrition during gestation is critical for offspring development.
  • Undernutrition can disrupt normal physiological programming, including endocrine function.
  • The adrenal gland plays a key role in stress response and metabolism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of maternal undernutrition (MUN) on maternal and offspring adrenal steroidogenic enzymes.
  • To determine the impact of MUN on gene expression of key enzymes involved in hormone synthesis.
  • To assess gender-specific effects of MUN on adrenal function in adult offspring.

Main Methods:

  • Pregnant rats were subjected to 50% food restriction (MUN) or ad libitum feeding (control).
  • mRNA expression of steroidogenic enzymes (e.g., CYP11A1, CYP11B1, CYP11B2, STAR, ACTH-R) was analyzed using RT-PCR.
  • Quantitative immunohistochemistry was used to confirm protein expression levels for selected targets.

Main Results:

  • Maternal undernutrition suppressed maternal adrenal expression of CYP11A1, CYP11B1, CYP11B2, and ACTH-R.
  • Neonatal (P1) offspring showed downregulation of multiple steroidogenic enzymes (CYP11B1, CYP11B2, HSD1/2, CYP11A1, STAR, MCR) and leptin receptors.
  • Adult male and female offspring exhibited distinct, often upregulated, changes in steroidogenic enzyme and receptor expression, with increased ACTH-R in both genders.

Conclusions:

  • The adrenal gland is a target for nutritional programming in utero.
  • Maternal undernutrition has a broad suppressive effect on adrenal steroidogenesis in mothers and neonates.
  • Gender-specific alterations in adult offspring suggest long-term programming and potentially increased stress sensitivity.

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