Preovulatory exposure to a protein-restricted diet disrupts amino acid kinetics and alters mitochondrial structure and function in the rat oocyte and is partially rescued by folic acid

• Published in: Reproductive biology and endocrinology 2019-01, Vol.17 (1), p.12-12, Article 12
• Main Authors: Schutt, Amy K, Blesson, Chellakkan S, Hsu, Jean W, Valdes, Cecilia T, Gibbons, William E, Jahoor, Farook, Yallampalli, Chandra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino acid; Amino acids; Apoptosis; Biosynthesis; Carbon; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Catheterization; Cell cycle; Coronary artery disease; Cysteine; Cystine; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Developmental programming; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diet; Dietary supplements; DNA; DNA methylation; Electron transport; Embryos; Epigenetics; Erythrocytes; Famine; Folic acid; Gene expression; Genes; Glucose; Glucose metabolism; Glucose transport; Glutathione; Heart diseases; Hepatocytes; Hypertension; Insulin resistance; Intubation; Investigations; Liver; Malnutrition; Medical research; Metabolism; Methionine; Mitochondria; Nutrient deficiency; Obesity; Oocyte; Oocytes; Oxidative stress; Physiological aspects; Physiology; Pregnancy; Protein restriction; Protein turnover; Proteins; Serine; Structure-function relationships; Tracers; Ultrastructure
• ISSN: 1477-7827; 1477-7827
• DOI: 10.1186/s12958-019-0458-y

Detrimental exposures during pregnancy have been implicated in programming offspring to develop permanent changes in physiology and metabolism, increasing the risk for developing diseases in adulthood such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. This study investigated the effects of protein restriction on the metabolism of amino acids within the oocyte, liver, and whole organism in a rat model as well as effects on mitochondrial ultrastructure and function in the cumulus oocyte complex. Wistar outbred female rats 8-11 weeks of age (n = 24) were assigned to three isocaloric dietary groups, including control (C), low protein (LP) and low protein supplemented with folate (LPF). Animals were superovulated and 48 h later underwent central catheterization. Isotopic tracers of 1- C-5C H -methionine, H -cysteine, U- C -cysteine and U- C -serine were administered by a 4 h prime-constant rate infusion. After sacrifice, oocytes were denuded of cumulus cells and liver specimens were obtained. Oocytes demonstrated reduced serine flux in LP vs. LPF (p