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Programmed Hyperphagia Due to Reduced Anorexigenic Mechanisms in Intrauterine Growth-Restricted Offspring

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Abstract

Maternal food restriction during pregnancy results in intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) newborns with significantly decreased plasma leptin levels. When nursed by ad libitum—fed controls, IUGR offspring exhibit hyperphagia with adult obesity, marked by increased percentage body fat and plasma leptin, suggesting altered anorexigenic pathways. The authors examined leptin signaling pathways and food intake responses to 2 putative anorexic effectors (leptin and sibutramine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor) in IUGR offspring. From 10 days to term gestation and through lactation, control pregnant rats received ad libitum food, whereas study rats were 50% food restricted. Following birth, litter size was standardized, and all offspring were nursed by control dams. At 3 weeks of age, offspring were weaned to ad libitum laboratory chow. At ages 1 day and 3 weeks, hypothalamic leptin receptor (Ob-Rb) mRNA and total STAT3 protein expression were determined. In addition, phosphorylated STAT3 was measured in 1-day-old offspring administered peripheral leptin. In prepubescent and adult offspring, anorexic effects of leptin and sibutramine were determined. At 1 day of age, IUGR pups showed increased hypothalamic Ob-Rb mRNA and total STAT3 protein expression though reduced leptin activated phosphorylated STAT3. At 3 weeks of age, IUGR offspring had decreased hypothalamic Ob-Rb mRNA expression, although with continued elevated STAT3 protein levels. The IUGR offspring demonstrated resistance to anorexigenic agents, leptin (6 weeks and 6 months), and sibutramine (8 months), as evidenced by less reduction in food intake and less body weight loss than controls. The IUGR offspring demonstrate suppressed leptin-induced STAT3 phosphorylation and impaired anorexigenic response to 2 factors in the central satiety pathway. This reduced anorexigenic function, together with normal or perhaps enhanced orexigenic function, contributes to the development of programmed obesity in IUGR rat offspring.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Perinatal Research Laboratories, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David-Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, USA

    Mina Desai PhD, Dave Gayle PhD, Guang Han MD & Michael G. Ross MD, MPH

  2. Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA

    Mina Desai PhD, Dave Gayle PhD, Guang Han MD & Michael G. Ross MD, MPH

Authors
  1. Mina Desai PhD
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  2. Dave Gayle PhD
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  3. Guang Han MD
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  4. Michael G. Ross MD, MPH
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mina Desai PhD.

Additional information

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grant K01 DK 063994, American Heart Association grant 0455117Y, and the March of Dimes. The authors acknowledge Linda Day, Stacy Behare, and Glenda Calvario for technical assistance.

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Desai, M., Gayle, D., Han, G. et al. Programmed Hyperphagia Due to Reduced Anorexigenic Mechanisms in Intrauterine Growth-Restricted Offspring. Reprod. Sci. 14, 329–337 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719107303983

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