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A Model of Chronic Nutrient Infusion in the Rat
Published on: August 14, 2013
Long-term effects on pancreatic function of feeding a HC formula to rats during the preweaning period
S Vadlamudi1, B K Hiremagalur, L Tao
1Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
Insights
High-carbohydrate formula during suckling causes pancreatic beta-cell hypertrophy and hyperinsulinemia in rats. This early nutrition influences islet morphology, leading to obesity later in life.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Nutritional Science
- Pancreatic Biology
Background:
- Early life nutrition significantly impacts long-term metabolic health.
- Understanding the effects of specific macronutrient compositions on pancreatic development is crucial for preventing obesity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of high-carbohydrate (HC) versus high-fat (HF) formula feeding during the suckling period on pancreatic function and morphology in a rat model.
- To determine if early nutritional challenges influence the development of hyperinsulinemia and obesity in adult life.
Main Methods:
- Male Sprague-Dawley rat pups were fed either HC or HF formula via gastrostomy during the suckling period.
- Post-weaning, animals were either unchallenged or fed a high-sucrose diet.
- Plasma and pancreatic insulin concentrations, insulin secretory response to oral glucose, and pancreatic beta-cell morphology (immunocytochemistry, morphometry) were assessed.
Main Results:
- HC formula-fed rats exhibited higher plasma and pancreatic insulin concentrations compared to HF or control-fed rats.
- HC-fed rats demonstrated impaired insulin secretory response in adult life.
- Hyperinsulinemia in HC-fed rats was associated with pancreatic beta-cell hypertrophy, observed both pre-weaning and in adulthood.
Conclusions:
- Consumption of high-carbohydrate formula during the suckling period alters pancreatic islet morphology.
- Early-life HC nutrition leads to sustained hyperinsulinemia and beta-cell hypertrophy.
- These pancreatic changes induced by early nutrition are linked to the subsequent development of obesity.
Abstract:
We have investigated pancreatic changes associated with hyperinsulinemia and an insulin secretory response to an oral glucose load in a new rat model for obesity. Male Sprague-Dawley pups were reared on a high-carbohydrate (HC) or high-fat (HF) formula by gastrostomy during the suckling period and were weaned onto a stock diet. These animals remained either nutritionally unchallenged or challenged with a high-sucrose diet during the postweaning period. The HC formula-fed animals showed increased insulin concentrations in the plasma and pancreas and also showed impaired insulin secretory response compared with mother-fed control or HF animals in adult life. Immunocytochemical and morphometric studies revealed that hyperinsulinemia in the HC animals during the preweaning period and also in adult life was associated with hypertrophy of beta-cells in the pancreas. The results show that consumption of a HC formula during the suckling period influences pancreatic islet morphology resulting in hyperinsulinemia which eventually leads to the development of obesity later in adult life.
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