Programming effects of maternal and gestational obesity on offspring metabolism and metabolic inflammation

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Developmental programming
• Metabolic health

Background:

• Rising rates of maternal obesity pose risks to offspring health.
• Understanding the long-term effects of maternal diet on offspring is crucial.
• Animal models are vital for studying developmental origins of health and disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate maternal obesity's programming effects on offspring adiposity and adipose tissue inflammation.
• To differentiate impacts of preconception versus preconception/gestational high-fat diet (HFD) exposure.
• To assess offspring metabolic responses and tissue characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Adult female mice were fed normal or high-fat diets (HFD) before and/or during pregnancy.
• Offspring were assessed for body composition, metabolic responses, and adipose tissue inflammation.
• Lipid-storing tissues were analyzed for expansion and immune cell infiltration.

Main Results:

• Male offspring exposed to HFD preconception showed increased weight gain, subcutaneous fat, and liver mass.
• Male offspring exposed to HFD preconception/gestation exhibited impaired glucose tolerance and increased adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) with postnatal HFD.
• Female offspring did not show significant differences across diet groups.

Conclusions:

• Maternal obesity during preconception and gestation independently programs offspring.
• Preconception exposure primarily impacts offspring body composition and adiposity.
• Gestational exposure influences offspring metabolism and adipose tissue immune cell phenotypes.