Different dietary compositions alter pubertal onset in Wistar rats

Puberty is a crucial developmental phase influenced by neuroendocrine signals involving various neuropeptides and hormones. The impact of various diet combinations on the initiation of puberty in female rats was studied, along with the crosstalk between hypothalamic neuropeptides that might influence it.

Weaned female Wistar rats were segregated into five groups and given different diets for a duration of 21 d. The diet included high-fat, high-carbohydrate, high-protein, cafeteria diet and standard chow. Throughout the 21-day period, body weight, vaginal opening and blood samples were recorded. Post sacrifice parameters like hormonal analysis, gene expression, protein expression and Immunolocalization were performed.

The High Fat Diet (HFD), High carbohydrate Diet (HCD), and Cafeteria diet (CafD) groups exhibited early vaginal opening, increased body weight, elevated somatic indices, and Follicle-stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and estradiol levels were elevated in regards to the control group. Gene expression analysis showed upregulation of Kiss1, Kiss1r, Pomc, Lep, Lepr, and Gnrh, while Npy, Agrp, and Mkrn3 were downregulated. Protein expression studies confirmed the increased levels of KISS1, KISS1R, LEPR, and POMC, particularly in the HFD and HCD groups. Histone acetylation analysis revealed higher global acetylation in the hypothalamus of HFD and HCD groups.

This study highlights the significant role of dietary composition in modulating pubertal onset through the neuroendocrine pathways. These findings suggest that high-fat and high-carbohydrate diets expedite puberty by altering the expression of key hypothalamic neuropeptides and hormones. This underscores the importance of nutrition in reproductive development and its broad implications for adolescent health.