Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2025
Assessing Activity-based Anorexia in Mice
Published on: May 14, 2018
Early-life sodium deprivation programs long-term changes in ingestive behaviors and energy expenditure in C57BL/6J
Alisha A Ziegler1,2, Samuel B R Lawton1, Connie C Grobe2
1Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States.
Insights
Early-life sodium restriction in mice led to lasting changes in metabolism and feeding behaviors. These programmed effects persisted into adulthood, impacting growth and energy expenditure.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Developmental Biology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Postnatal growth failure is a major issue for premature infants.
- Sodium (Na) homeostasis is crucial for optimal growth, especially in early life.
- Early-life sodium dysregulation may contribute to growth restriction and later cardiometabolic disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of prolonged versus early-life sodium depletion on growth, body composition, intake behaviors, and energy expenditure in mice.
- To determine if early-life sodium restriction programs long-term changes in metabolic and autonomic functions.
Main Methods:
- Two studies using C57BL/6J mice were conducted.
- Study 1: Mice received low (0.04%) or normal/high (0.30%) sodium diets from 3 to 18 weeks of age.
- Study 2: Mice received low (0.04%) or normal/high (0.30%) sodium diets from 3 to 6 weeks, then a standard (0.15%) sodium diet until 18 weeks. Ingestive behaviors, body composition, and energy expenditure were monitored. Hexamethonium was administered to assess autonomic function.
Main Results:
- Prolonged sodium restriction caused delayed growth and elevated basal metabolic rate.
- Early-life sodium restriction led to temporary growth delays that resolved upon return to a standard diet.
- Previously restricted mice showed sustained changes in feeding behavior, reduced food intake, increased water intake, and higher aerobic energy expenditure from 6 to 18 weeks.
- Hexamethonium abolished the elevated basal metabolic rate in previously restricted mice, indicating autonomic involvement.
Conclusions:
- Early-life sodium restriction can program persistent changes in ingestive behaviors, autonomic function, and energy expenditure.
- These programmed changes continue into adulthood, suggesting a link between early nutrition and long-term health.
- Findings highlight the critical role of early-life sodium balance in development and metabolic programming.
Abstract:
Postnatal growth failure remains a significant problem for infants born prematurely, despite aggressive efforts to improve perinatal nutrition. Though often dysregulated in early life when children are born preterm, sodium (Na) homeostasis is vital to achieve optimal growth. We hypothesize that insufficient Na supply in this critical period contributes to growth restriction and programmed risks for cardiometabolic disease in later adulthood. Thus, we sought to ascertain the effects of prolonged versus early-life Na depletion on weight gain, body composition, food and water intake behaviors, and energy expenditure in C57BL/6J mice. In one study, mice were provided a low (0.04%)- or normal/high (0.30%)-Na diet between 3 and 18 wk of age. Na-restricted mice demonstrated delayed growth and elevated basal metabolic rate. In a second study, mice were provided 0.04% or 0.30% Na diet between 3 and 6 wk of age and then returned to standard (0.15%)-Na diet through the end of the study. Na-restricted mice exhibited growth delays that quickly caught up on return to standard diet. Between 6 and 18 wk of age, previously restricted mice exhibited sustained, programmed changes in feeding behaviors, reductions in total food intake, and increases in water intake and aerobic energy expenditure while maintaining normal body composition. Although having no effect in control mice, administration of the ganglionic blocker hexamethonium abolished the programmed increase in basal metabolic rate in previously restricted mice. Together these data indicate that early-life Na restriction can cause programmed changes in ingestive behaviors, autonomic function, and energy expenditure that persist well into adulthood.
More Related Videos
08:06Assessment of the Metabolic Effects of Isocaloric 2:1 Intermittent Fasting in Mice
Published on: November 27, 2019
05:15Author Spotlight: Accessible M&M-Based Mouse Model for Investigating Binge Eating Disorder - Insights into Eating Behaviors, Anxiety, and Neural Mechanisms
Published on: January 10, 2025