Leptin levels in rat offspring are modified by the ratio of linoleic to alpha-linolenic acid in the maternal diet
Journal article, 2002

The supply of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is important for optimal fetal and postnatal development. We have previously shown that leptin levels in suckling rats are reduced by maternal PUFA deficiency. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of maternal dietary intake of (n-3) and (n-6) PUFA on the leptin content in rat milk and serum leptin levels in suckling pups. For the last 10 days of gestation and throughout lactation, the rats were fed an isocaloric diet containing 7% linseed oil (n-3 diet), sunflower oil (n-6 diet), or soybean oil (n-6/n-3 diet). Body weight, body length, inguinal fat pad weight, and adipocyte size of the pups receiving the n-3 diet were significantly lower during the whole suckling period compared with n-6/n-3 fed pups. Body and fat pad weights of the n-6 fed pups were in between the other two groups at week one, but not different from the n-6/n-3 group at week 3. Feeding dams the n-3 diet resulted in decreased serum leptin levels in the suckling pups compared with pups in the n-6/n-3 group. The mean serum leptin levels of the n-6 pups were between the other two groups but not different from either group. There were no differences in the milk leptin content between the groups. These results show that the balance between the n-6 and n-3 PUFA in the maternal diet rather than amount of n-6 or n-3 PUFA per se could be important for adipose tissue growth and for maintaining adequate serum leptin levels in the offspring.

Adipocytes/cytology

Animals

dosage/classification/metabolism

Milk/chemistry

Diet

Leptin/biosynthesis/*blood

Unsaturated/*administration &

Adipose Tissue/chemistry/metabolism

Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena

Rats

Body Weight

Analysis of Variance

Linoleic Acid/*administration & dosage

Animals

Pregnancy

Dietary Fats

Suckling/blood

alpha-Linolenic Acid/*administration & dosage

RNA

Fatty Acids/analysis

Female

Messenger/biosynthesis

Author

Marina Korotkova

University of Gothenburg

Britt Gabrielsson

University of Gothenburg

Malin Lönn

University of Gothenburg

Lars Åke Hanson

University of Gothenburg

Birgitta Strandvik

University of Gothenburg

J Lipid Res

Vol. 43 10 1743-9

Subject Categories

Endocrinology and Diabetes

Physiology

DOI

10.1194/jlr.M200105-JLR200

More information

Created

10/10/2017