Hitting a triple in the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease field: sucrose intake in adulthood increases fat content in the female but not in the male rat offspring of dams fed a gestational low-protein diet.

The excessive consumption of carbohydrates is related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in infants and adults. The effect of combining maternal malnutrition and a high carbohydrate intake on the development of NAFLD in adulthood remains unknown. We therefore hypothesized that consumption of 5% sucrose by the offspring of dams fed a low-protein diet during pregnancy promotes liver fat accumulation and oxidative damage differently in females and males. To test this, 12-month-old female and male offspring of mothers fed a Control (C) or low-protein diet (Restricted, R) were provided with either tap water or 5% sucrose for a period of 10 weeks. Livers were excised to measure the fat content and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NTyr) immunostaining; serum samples were also obtained to measure the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA). Data were analyzed using a non-repeated measures three-way analysis of variance to determine significant differences (P<0.05) regarding to the interaction among maternal diet, sucrose consumption and sex. Results showed that the liver fat content of females from R mothers was higher than that of their male counterpart. Hepatic 3-NTyr immunostaining and serum MDA concentrations were not affected by the interaction involving maternal diet, sucrose consumption and sex. Otherwise, liver fat content was correlated with the hepatic 3-NTyr immunostaining and serum MDA concentrations only in females. Thus, sucrose intake in adulthood increases fat content in the female but not in the male rat offspring of dams fed with a low-protein diet during pregnancy. This research emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet during pregnancy and the influence of the diet on the adult offspring.

Effect of multiparity on morphometry and oestrogen receptor expression of pelvic and perineal striated muscles in rabbits: is serum oestradiol relevant?

OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in morphometry and expression of oestrogen receptors (OR) in the pubococcygeus and bulbospongiosus muscles, and the concentration of serum oestradiol associated with multiparity. STUDY DESIGN: Twelve chinchilla-breed female rabbits were divided into multiparas who had undergone four consecutive deliveries and age-matched virgin nulliparas. Pubococcygeus and bulbospongiosus muscles were surgically removed from each rabbit and processed histologically. Fibre cross-sectional area, number of peripheral nuclei, and expression of ORα and ORß were measured for each muscle. Serum samples were obtained and the concentration of serum oestradiol was quantified. RESULTS: Multiparity increased (p ≤ 0.05) fibre cross-sectional area and the number of peripheral nuclei per fibre in pubococcygeus muscle, but not in bulbospongiosus muscle. Expression of both ORα and ORß was high (p ≤ 0.05) in both muscles from multiparous rabbits. A rise in serum oestradiol was measured at the end of the second pregnancy, which was absent (p ≤ 0.05) at the end of the fourth pregnancy. The concentration of serum oestradiol was similar (p > 0.05) in nulliparous and multiparous rabbits. CONCLUSIONS: Multiparity caused morphometric changes in pubococcygeus muscle but not in bulbospongiosus muscle. As OR expression was high for both muscles, some properties related to fibre composition or muscle physiology could be affected. The finding that serum oestradiol was not elevated at the end of the fourth pregnancy could be related to changes in pelvic and perineal muscles associated with multiparity.