RT Journal Article
T1 Maternal Caloric Restriction Implemented during the Preconceptional and Pregnancy Period Alters Hypothalamic and Hippocampal Endocannabinoid Levels at Birth and Induces Overweight and Increased Adiposity at Adulthood in Male Rat Offspring.
A1 Ramírez-López, María Teresa
A1 Vázquez, Mariam
A1 Bindila, Laura
A1 Lomazzo, Ermelinda
A1 Hofmann, Clementine
A1 Blanco, Rosarío Noemí
A1 Alén, Francisco
A1 Antón, María
A1 Decara, Juan
A1 Arco, Rocío
A1 Ouro, Daniel
A1 Orio, Laura
A1 Suárez, Juan
A1 Lutz, Beat
A1 Gómez de Heras, Raquel
A1 Rodríguez de Fonseca, Fernando
K1 behavior
K1 development
K1 endocannabinoids
K1 hippocampus
K1 hypothalamus
K1 maternal undernutrition
K1 metabolism
K1 rat
AB Exposure to inadequate nutritional conditions in critical windows of development has been associated to disturbances on metabolism and behavior in the offspring later in life. The role of the endocannabinoid system, a known regulator of energy expenditure and adaptive behaviors, in the modulation of these processes is unknown. In the present study, we investigated the impact of exposing rat dams to diet restriction (20% less calories than standard diet) during pre-gestational and gestational periods on: (a) neonatal outcomes; (b) endocannabinoid content in hypothalamus, hippocampus and olfactory bulb at birth; (c) metabolism-related parameters; and (d) behavior in adult male offspring. We found that calorie-restricted dams tended to have a reduced litter size, although the offspring showed normal weight at birth. Pups from calorie-restricted dams also exhibited a strong decrease in the levels of anandamide (AEA), 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), arachidonic acid (AA) and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) in the hypothalamus at birth. Additionally, pups from diet-restricted dams displayed reduced levels of AEA in the hippocampus without significant differences in the olfactory bulb. Moreover, offspring exhibited increased weight gain, body weight and adiposity in adulthood as well as increased anxiety-related responses. We propose that endocannabinoid signaling is altered by a maternal caloric restriction implemented during the preconceptional and pregnancy periods, which might lead to modifications of the hypothalamic and hippocampal circuits, potentially contributing to the long-term effects found in the adult offspring.
SN 1662-5153
YR 2016
FD 2016-11-01
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10668/26816
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10668/26816
LA en
DS RISalud
RD Apr 4, 2025