The Effect of Maternal High-Fat Feeding on Energy Homeostasis in Stressed Adult Male Rat Offspring

Introduction: In the present study the effect of chronic maternal high-fat diet consumption on energy homeostasis and glucose metabolism in response to chronic stress was investigated in adult male rats. Materials and Methods: Female rats were divided into two groups of normal and high fat diets. Each group received their diet from 3 weeks before pregnancy until the end of lactation. At 8 weeks of age, male offspring were divided into control and stress groups, the stress group receiving variable stress for 2 weeks. At the end of 10 weeks, plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, corticosterone and leptin were measured and intra-abdominal fat was weighed in all male offspring. The body weight, food and calorie intake of the rats were also measured. Results: Maternal high-fat diet alone reduced intra-abdominal fat weight, plasma concentrations of corticosterone and leptin, body weight, food and calorie intake, although at had no effect on fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations, or on HOMA-IR index. In response to stress, the maternal high-fat diet reduced corticosterone and leptin plasma concentrations, body weight, food and calorie intake compared to the control group; whereas did not significantly change the intra-abdominal fat weight, plasma glucose and insulin levels as well as HOMA-IR index. Conclusion: From the results of the present study it seems we can conclude that maternal HFD feeding, in a critical developmental period (perinatal), by altering responsiveness of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and/or central leptin sensitivity, exacerbates impaired energy homeostasis in stressed adult offspring.