GDF15 Knockout Does Not Substantially Impact Perinatal Body Weight or Neonatal Outcomes in Mice.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Metabolic regulation
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) levels rise during pregnancy.
• GDF15 is linked to appetite, weight changes, pregnancy complications, and metabolic disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of GDF15 in regulating maternal body weight and food intake during pregnancy.
• To assess GDF15's influence on insulin sensitivity and offspring development in a mouse model.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a Gdf15 knockout (Gdf15-/-) mouse model.
• Compared Gdf15-/- dams with wild-type (Gdf15+/+) dams throughout pregnancy and the postnatal period.
• Monitored food consumption, body weight, insulin sensitivity, litter size, pup survival, birth weight, and milk composition.

Main Results:

• Gdf15-/- dams exhibited similar food intake and weight gain compared to Gdf15+/+ dams during pregnancy.
• Insulin sensitivity was comparable between genotypes on gestational day 16.5.
• No significant differences were observed in litter size, survival rates, or milk production/composition.
• A minor reduction in Gdf15-/- pup birth weight was transient and not evident after postnatal day 3.5.

Conclusions:

• GDF15 is dispensable for regulating maternal food intake and body weight during pregnancy in mice.
• GDF15 does not appear to play a critical role in maintaining insulin sensitivity or successful lactation in this model.
• These findings suggest GDF15's role in pregnancy metabolic regulation may be context-dependent or redundant.