Metabolic Imprinting by Maternal Protein Malnourishment Impairs Vagal Activity in Adult Rats

• Published in: Journal of neuroendocrinology 2011-02, Vol.23 (2), p.148-157
• Main Authors: de Oliveira, J. C., Scomparin, D. X., Andreazzi, A. E., Branco, R. C. S., Martins, A. G., Gravena, C., Grassiolli, S., Rinaldi, W., Barbosa, F. B., Mathias, P. C. F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adrenal Medulla - metabolism; Age; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Autonomic nervous system; autonomous nervous system; Beta cells; Biological and medical sciences; Body mass; Body weight; Catecholamines - secretion; Diet, Protein-Restricted; Fasting; Female; Firing rate; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glucose - metabolism; Glucose - pharmacology; Glucose tolerance; Glucose Tolerance Test; Imprinting; Insulin; Insulin - metabolism; insulin secretion; Insulin-Secreting Cells - drug effects; Insulin-Secreting Cells - metabolism; Islets of Langerhans; Lactation; Lactation - physiology; Male; maternal protein restriction; Neonates; Pancreas; Parasympathetic nervous system; programmed metabolism; Protein-Energy Malnutrition - physiopathology; Rats; Secretion; Vagus nerve; Vagus Nerve - physiology; Vertebrates: endocrinology
• ISSN: 0953-8194; 1365-2826
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2010.02095.x

Protein restriction during lactation has been suggested to diminish parasympathetic activity, whereas sympathetic activity is enhanced in adult rats. The present study analyses whether dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system is involved in the impairment of insulin secretion from perinatally undernourished rats. Male neonates were reared by mothers fed a low‐ (4%) protein (LP group) or normal‐ (23%) protein diet (NP group). At 81 days of age, LP rats showed less body mass than NP rats (318 ± 4 g versus 370 ± 5 g) (P