Maternal Programming of Body Weight in Syrian Hamsters

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Developmental biology
• Nutritional science

Background:

• Maternal programming influences offspring energy balance, preparing them for the postnatal environment.
• Mismatched gestational and postnatal environments can lead to adverse programming effects.
• Most research uses severe food restriction; effects of mild restriction and postgestational carry-over are less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the independent postgestational effects of maternal food restriction during pregnancy.
• To determine if mild gestational food restriction impacts offspring characteristics beyond prenatal programming.
• To examine sex-specific effects of gestational programming and carry-over effects on offspring.

Main Methods:

• Syrian hamsters were fed either ad libitum or 90% of ad libitum intake during pregnancy.
• Litters were cross-fostered at birth to dams with different nutritional statuses during gestation.
• Offspring body weight, food intake, and food hoarding behavior were assessed.

Main Results:

• Offspring born to ad libitum-fed mothers but nursed by food-restricted foster mothers showed increased postnatal body weight.
• Carry-over effects of gestational food restriction on offspring body weight were significant in males but not females.
• Gestational food restriction did not significantly affect adult food hoarding behavior.

Conclusions:

• Mild energetic challenges during gestation can have significant postgestational effects on maternal ability.
• These effects on offspring development are sex-specific, with males being more affected.
• The study highlights the complex interplay between prenatal and postnatal maternal environments in shaping offspring outcomes.