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Effect of calcium deprivation on rat dams on fetuses and newborn offspring
Insights
Calcium deficiency in pregnant rats leads to reduced offspring growth and body solids post-birth. Despite maternal hypocalcemia, offspring serum calcium is only moderately affected, with altered body element composition.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Developmental Biology
- Mineral Metabolism
Background:
- Maternal calcium deficiency can impact fetal and neonatal development.
- Understanding the transfer of calcium and phosphorus from dam to offspring is crucial for assessing nutritional impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of maternal calcium deficiency on offspring growth and body composition.
- To analyze calcium and phosphorus levels in dams, milk, and offspring at various developmental stages.
Main Methods:
- Calcium-deficient rats were bred, and fetuses/offspring were collected at 18 days gestation, birth, and 5-10 days postpartum.
- Blood and milk samples from dams, and blood from offspring were analyzed.
- Body weight, total body solids, and elemental content (calcium, phosphorus) of offspring were quantified.
Main Results:
- Offspring exhibited normal weight at gestation and birth but significantly reduced growth post-birth.
- Maternal serum calcium was severely reduced, while offspring serum calcium was only moderately affected.
- Offspring body calcium and phosphorus content decreased significantly postpartum, but their percentage of total body solids increased.
Conclusions:
- Maternal calcium deficiency severely impacts offspring growth and body composition after birth.
- The calcium transfer mechanisms from dam to offspring appear to partially compensate for maternal deficiency, but with consequences.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the long-term effects and underlying mechanisms of altered mineral accretion in offspring.
Abstract:
Calcium-deficient rats were put to breeding, and fetuses and offsprings were collected at 18 days in utero, at birth, and at 5-10 days post partum. Furthermore, blood and milk were collected from the dams, and blood from the offsprings. The rat pups had normal weights at 18 days in utero and at birth, whereas at 5-10 days post partum the growth was significantly reduced. The relative amount of total solids in the body was also decreased at 5 and 10 days post partum (increased water content). Despite the fact that serum Ca in the dams was severely reduced, the calcium content in the serum of the offspring was only moderately lowered, and there was no correlation between serum Ca in dams and offspring. The content of total solids in the rat milk was increased, whereas the calcium content remained unchanged. The body content of Ca and P in the rat pups was decreased only at 5 and 10 days post partum. The degree of reduction was nearly the same for all these elements, amounting to 15-19% at 5 days post partum and 38-40% at 10 days post partum. If, however, the content of the elements was calculated as percentage of total body solids, a significant increase was found for all of them at 5 and 10 days post partum. Significant differences in Ca:P ratios were not found at any age.