Horm Metab Res 2017; 49(09): 707-715
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-115394
Endocrine Research
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Maternal High-Fat Diet During Pregnancy and Lactation has Opposite Effects on Gonadal Expression of Leptin and Leptin Receptor in Rat Dams and Their Offspring

Agnieszka Rak
1   Department of Physiology and Toxicology of Reproduction, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
,
Anna Hejmej
2   Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
,
Monika Słupecka-Ziemilska
3   Department of Endocrinology, The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jabłonna, Poland
,
Jaroslaw Woliński
3   Department of Endocrinology, The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jabłonna, Poland
,
Elzbieta Fiedor
1   Department of Physiology and Toxicology of Reproduction, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
,
Barbara Bilinska
2   Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
,
Ewa Ł. Gregoraszczuk
1   Department of Physiology and Toxicology of Reproduction, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 26 February 2017

accepted 22 June 2017

Publication Date:
31 July 2017 (online)

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of a high-fat (HF) diet on protein expression of leptin and its receptor in the gonads of dams and their offspring. Female Wistar rats were fed a HF diet (30% fat) or a standard breeding (BD) diet (5% fat) during pregnancy and lactation. At 21 days of lactation, mothers and both sexes of prepubertal offspring were killed by decapitation. The protein expression of leptin and its receptor was assayed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry in gonadal, periovarian, and epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT). We demonstrated that leptin protein expression in ovary, and both leptin and ObRb expression in periovarian WAT was decreased in HF dams compared with BD animals. Immunohistochemistry showed lower leptin expression in growing antral follicles and corpora lutea of HF dams. Conversely, in both gonads and epididymal WAT of HF offspring, leptin and its receptor were significantly higher expressed compared with BD. Immunolocalization of leptin system in HF offspring gonads showed higher expression in growing and antral follicles of the ovary, seminiferous tubules, and interstitial tissue of testes. In conclusion, high gonadal and gonadal-WAT expression of leptin system was observed in the offspring of dams fed a HF diet during pregnancy and lactation.

 
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