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Growth factors in the fetus and pre-adolescent offspring of hyperglycemic rats

Lawrence Fordjour1, Charles Cai1, Vadim Bronshtein1

  • 1Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.

Diabetes & Vascular Disease Research
|April 29, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Maternal hyperglycemia in rats led to elevated offspring growth factors and metabolic changes, suggesting an independent link to later-life metabolic health. This highlights potential risks for children born to mothers with high blood sugar.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Metabolic Syndrome Research

Background:

  • Maternal hyperglycemia is linked to childhood metabolic syndrome, including obesity and hyperglycemia.
  • The study investigates the influence of maternal hyperglycemia on fetal and pre-adolescent offspring growth factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the hypothesis that maternal hyperglycemia influences growth factors in fetal and pre-adolescent offspring.
  • To examine the impact of maternal hyperglycemia on offspring metabolic parameters and gene expression.

Main Methods:

  • Hyperglycemia was induced in pregnant rats using streptozocin.
  • Fetuses and pre-adolescent pups were studied under control, hyperglycemic placebo-treated, and hyperglycemic insulin-treated conditions.
  • Fetal and pre-adolescent growth factors, body weight, and blood glucose levels were determined.

Main Results:

  • Maternal hyperglycemia led to elevated biomarkers of hypoxia and reduced fetal survival, which was improved by maternal insulin treatment.
  • Despite improved survival, offspring from hyperglycemic mothers exhibited higher body weight and blood glucose levels postnatally.
  • Aberrant growth factors and altered gene expression (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glucagon, insulin, interleukin-10, leptin) were observed in offspring.

Conclusions:

  • The effects of maternal hyperglycemia on offspring glucose and body weight are not solely due to maternal overnutrition.
  • Maternal hyperglycemia establishes an independent pathway influencing offspring metabolic health.
  • Findings suggest a potential mechanism linking maternal glycemic control during pregnancy to long-term metabolic risks in offspring.
Abstract

Keywords:
Fetusglucosegrowth factorsinsulinmaternal hyperglycemia

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