Maternal high-fat intake predisposes nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in C57BL/6 offspring

Abstract

Objective: This work aimed to verify the hypothesis that maternal intake of high-fat diet in critical periods of pregnancy and/or suckling period predisposes nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in adult C57BL/6 mice offspring.

Study design: Male pups were divided into 5 groups: (1) SC, from standard chow-fed dams; (2) G, from high-fat chow (HF)-fed dams during the gestation (G) period; (3) L, from HF-fed dams during the lactation (L) period; (4) GL, from HF-fed dams during the gestation and lactation (GL) periods; and (5) GL/HF, from HF-fed dams during GL, maintaining an HF diet from postweaning to adulthood. We analyzed body mass, plasma blood, and liver structure.

Results: The G offspring showed insulin resistance and lower glucose transporter-2 expression. Hepatic steatosis was present in the G, L, GL, and mainly in GL/HF offspring. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c expression was higher in G, GL, and GL/HF offspring.

Conclusion: Programming by HF chow predisposes hepatic adverse remodeling in the liver of adult offspring.