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Mechanisms mediating the impact of maternal obesity on offspring hypothalamic development and later function

Isadora C Furigo1, Laura Dearden2

  • 1Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom.

Frontiers in Endocrinology
|January 9, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Maternal obesity during pregnancy can permanently alter offspring

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Rising global obesity rates complicate pregnancies.
  • Maternal obesity poses risks for mother and child, including long-term health issues like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
  • Offspring exposed to maternal obesity show increased food intake, suggesting altered neuronal control of appetite.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review hypothalamic development.
  • To examine how maternal obesity impacts offspring hypothalamic structure and function.
  • To identify factors in an obese in utero environment that may cause permanent hypothalamic changes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on maternal obesity and offspring neurodevelopment.
  • Analysis of animal models investigating hypothalamic development and function.
  • Examination of metabolic hormone roles (leptin, ghrelin, insulin) in hypothalamic plasticity.

Main Results:

  • The hypothalamus, crucial for energy homeostasis, is sensitive to metabolic signals.
  • Maternal obesity can disrupt hypothalamic development and function in offspring.
  • Specific factors within the obese in utero environment mediate lasting changes.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal obesity during pregnancy can lead to lasting structural and functional changes in the offspring's hypothalamus.
  • These hypothalamic alterations may contribute to increased long-term risks of metabolic diseases in offspring.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is vital for preventing intergenerational obesity and related disorders.

Keywords:
Obesitydevelopmental programmingfood intakehypothalamuspregnancy

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