Adverse effects of perinatal protein restriction on glucose homeostasis in offspring of Sprague-Dawley rats

• Published in: Scientific African 2021-11, Vol.14, p.e01036, Article e01036
• Main Authors: Igbayilola, Y.D., Morakinyo, A.O., Iranloye, B.O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Glucose; Insulin; Intrauterine; Perinatal; Programming; Protein
• ISSN: 2468-2276; 2468-2276
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2021.e01036

Adequate evidence suggests that poor in-utero environment produced by early life dietary disturbance may predispose offspring to chronic diseases in adult life. It remains to be defined the adverse effect of early exposure due to perinatal protein restriction (PPR) (gestation, lactation and/or both) on the regulators of glucose homeostasis of the male offspring in later life. Hence, the present study investigated the role of perinatal protein restriction on the regulators of glucose homeostasis in adult offspring. Twenty-four pregnant and twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. They were fed either a normal diet containing 20% protein or protein-restricted (PR) diet with 8% protein. The dams were given PR diet up to parturition (in-utero group, IUPR), or from birth to postnatal day 21 (lactation group, LPR) or for a period covering both groups (combined group, CPR). Control dams with control diet was run in parallel for comparison. At day 120, oral glucose tolerance, insulin tolerance, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin level were determined. Hepatic and myocytic glycogen contents, GLUT-4 protein abundance, alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase activities were also assessed. The results revealed that glucose tolerance was unchanged, insulin sensitivity was significantly decreased in IUPR and CPR offspring. HOMA-IR elicited a significant elevation (p