Excess sucrose intake during pregnancy programs fetal brain glucocorticoid receptor expression in female but not male C57Bl/6J mice
Abstract Background Sex‐specific mechanisms explaining the association between mothers with obesity and the development of obesity in children are poorly characterized. Permanent changes in fetal brain glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression caused by exposure to overnutrition in utero may program a...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wiley
2021-08-01
|
Series: | Obesity Science & Practice |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.506 |
id |
doaj-b219dfd7260245dcba9be3f0f323f166 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-b219dfd7260245dcba9be3f0f323f1662021-08-07T03:03:17ZengWileyObesity Science & Practice2055-22382021-08-017446247210.1002/osp4.506Excess sucrose intake during pregnancy programs fetal brain glucocorticoid receptor expression in female but not male C57Bl/6J miceDebra Kulhanek0Raghavendra B. Rao1Megan E. Paulsen2Department of Pediatrics Division of Neonatology University of Minnesota Medical School Minneapolis Minnesota USADepartment of Pediatrics Division of Neonatology University of Minnesota Medical School Minneapolis Minnesota USADepartment of Pediatrics Division of Neonatology University of Minnesota Medical School Minneapolis Minnesota USAAbstract Background Sex‐specific mechanisms explaining the association between mothers with obesity and the development of obesity in children are poorly characterized. Permanent changes in fetal brain glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression caused by exposure to overnutrition in utero may program aberrant energy homeostasis, thereby predisposing the offspring to obesity. This study explores sex differences in brain GR expression using an established mouse model of overnutrition during pregnancy. Methods Female C57Bl/6J mice were fed control (CON) or high‐fat–high‐sucrose (HFHS) diets. Dam cholesterol, insulin, and triglycerides were measured by colorimetric assays. Fetal corticosterone exposure was measured by placental Abca1, Hsd11β1, Hsd11β2, and brain Nr3c1 (GR); Pomc expression measured by RT‐qPCR. Results Female, but not male, HFHS fetuses had 46% decreased brain GR and twofold increased Pomc expression. There was decreased Abca1 and Hsd11β1 but not Hsd11β2 expression in HFHS placentas. Caloric and sucrose intake, but not fat intake, in dams inversely correlated with fetal GR expression in both sexes. Excess sucrose consumption by dams inversely correlated with female fetal GR and directly correlated with female fetal Pomc expression. Conclusions Excess sucrose consumption in pregnant dams caused lower GR and higher Pomc expression in the female fetal brain. Clinical investigation of excess sucrose intake during pregnancy and its subsequent effect on hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis activity and appetite in offspring may lead to novel, sex‐specific obesity prevention strategies in the development of obesity in children.https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.506brainfetal programmingglucocorticoidsnutrition |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Debra Kulhanek Raghavendra B. Rao Megan E. Paulsen |
spellingShingle |
Debra Kulhanek Raghavendra B. Rao Megan E. Paulsen Excess sucrose intake during pregnancy programs fetal brain glucocorticoid receptor expression in female but not male C57Bl/6J mice Obesity Science & Practice brain fetal programming glucocorticoids nutrition |
author_facet |
Debra Kulhanek Raghavendra B. Rao Megan E. Paulsen |
author_sort |
Debra Kulhanek |
title |
Excess sucrose intake during pregnancy programs fetal brain glucocorticoid receptor expression in female but not male C57Bl/6J mice |
title_short |
Excess sucrose intake during pregnancy programs fetal brain glucocorticoid receptor expression in female but not male C57Bl/6J mice |
title_full |
Excess sucrose intake during pregnancy programs fetal brain glucocorticoid receptor expression in female but not male C57Bl/6J mice |
title_fullStr |
Excess sucrose intake during pregnancy programs fetal brain glucocorticoid receptor expression in female but not male C57Bl/6J mice |
title_full_unstemmed |
Excess sucrose intake during pregnancy programs fetal brain glucocorticoid receptor expression in female but not male C57Bl/6J mice |
title_sort |
excess sucrose intake during pregnancy programs fetal brain glucocorticoid receptor expression in female but not male c57bl/6j mice |
publisher |
Wiley |
series |
Obesity Science & Practice |
issn |
2055-2238 |
publishDate |
2021-08-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Sex‐specific mechanisms explaining the association between mothers with obesity and the development of obesity in children are poorly characterized. Permanent changes in fetal brain glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression caused by exposure to overnutrition in utero may program aberrant energy homeostasis, thereby predisposing the offspring to obesity. This study explores sex differences in brain GR expression using an established mouse model of overnutrition during pregnancy. Methods Female C57Bl/6J mice were fed control (CON) or high‐fat–high‐sucrose (HFHS) diets. Dam cholesterol, insulin, and triglycerides were measured by colorimetric assays. Fetal corticosterone exposure was measured by placental Abca1, Hsd11β1, Hsd11β2, and brain Nr3c1 (GR); Pomc expression measured by RT‐qPCR. Results Female, but not male, HFHS fetuses had 46% decreased brain GR and twofold increased Pomc expression. There was decreased Abca1 and Hsd11β1 but not Hsd11β2 expression in HFHS placentas. Caloric and sucrose intake, but not fat intake, in dams inversely correlated with fetal GR expression in both sexes. Excess sucrose consumption by dams inversely correlated with female fetal GR and directly correlated with female fetal Pomc expression. Conclusions Excess sucrose consumption in pregnant dams caused lower GR and higher Pomc expression in the female fetal brain. Clinical investigation of excess sucrose intake during pregnancy and its subsequent effect on hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis activity and appetite in offspring may lead to novel, sex‐specific obesity prevention strategies in the development of obesity in children. |
topic |
brain fetal programming glucocorticoids nutrition |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.506 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT debrakulhanek excesssucroseintakeduringpregnancyprogramsfetalbrainglucocorticoidreceptorexpressioninfemalebutnotmalec57bl6jmice AT raghavendrabrao excesssucroseintakeduringpregnancyprogramsfetalbrainglucocorticoidreceptorexpressioninfemalebutnotmalec57bl6jmice AT meganepaulsen excesssucroseintakeduringpregnancyprogramsfetalbrainglucocorticoidreceptorexpressioninfemalebutnotmalec57bl6jmice |
_version_ |
1721217192930836480 |