[Effect of pregnancy rats supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid on carnitine palmitoyl transferase-I gene expression in offspring].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect on lipid metabolic and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-I (CPT-I) gene expression of offspring when their maternal rats supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) during pregnancy. METHOD: Female SD rats were randomly divided into A, B, C groups. Group A was fed with basic diet, group B was supplemented with low dose of DHA, and group C supplemented with high dose of DHA during pregnancy. All the male offspring were suckled by maternal rats in group A. Offspring were fed with basic diet from weaning (week 3) to week 8. Body weight, body fat, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and CPT- I mRNA level were observed in eight rats of every group. RESULTS: The birth body weights in three groups of offspring of rats were no significantly difference(P > 0.05). At the end of 8 weeks, the body weights in group C was significantly lower than that of the group A/P < 0.05), then the body fat, TG in B and C were significantly lower than those of group A (P < 0.05), but HDL-C in C were significantly higher than those of group A (P < 0.05), but the TC was no significant difference in three groups. The CPT-I mRNA levels in B and C were persistently higher than those of group A during experiment. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with DHA during pregnancy mediate fatty acid oxidation and decrease blood lipid in offspring that could persistently increase CPT-I gene expression. But excess DHA consumption during pregnancy could cause adverse health effects in offspring.