Maternal high-fat diet during pregnancy and lactation had gender difference effect on adiponectin in rat offspring

This study investigated the effect of a high-fat (HF) diet on plasma adiponectin and steroid hormones levels, and the protein expression of adiponectin and its receptors, in the gonads and gonadal (periovarian and epididymal) white adipose tissue (WAT) of dams and their offspring. Female Wistar rats were fed a HF diet (30% fat) or a standard breeding (BD) diet (5% fat) during pregnancy and lactation. At 21 days of lactation, mothers and both sexes of prepubertal offspring were killed by decapitation. Plasma adiponectin, testosterone (T) and oestradiol (E2) levels were analyzed by ELISA. The protein expression of adiponectin and its receptors 1 (AdipoR1) and 2 (AdipoR2) was assayed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Plasma adiponectin levels in HF dams were lower compared to BD dams, and correlated with protein expression of adiponectin and its receptors, but not with steroid hormone levels. Female HF offspring had lower plasma adiponectin levels, reduced intensity of adiponectin and AdipoR1 in the ovary, and decreased E2 in parallel with increased T. In contrast, male HF offspring had higher plasma adiponectin levels, increased intensity of adiponectin and AdipoR1 in the testis, and decreased T in parallel with increased E2. In conclusion, feeding a HF diet to dams during pregnancy and lactation disturbs plasma adiponectin levels and protein expression, both in female and male offspring; it lowers adiponectin secretion and protein expression in the female whereas in male it is increased. As a consequence, there is disruption of steroid secretion in offspring, towards T in females, and E2 in males.