Ramírez-López, María TeresaArco, RaquelDecara, JuanVázquez, MariamBlanco, Rosario NoemíAlén, FranciscoSuárez, JuanGómez de Heras, RaquelRodríguez de Fonseca, Fernando2016-11-252016-11-252016-11-02Ramírez-López MT, Arco R, Decara J, Vázquez M, Blanco RN, Alén F, et al. Exposure to a Highly Caloric Palatable Diet during the Perinatal Period Affects the Expression of the Endogenous Cannabinoid System in the Brain, Liver and Adipose Tissue of Adult Rat Offspring. PLoS ONE. 2016; 11(11):e0165432http://hdl.handle.net/10668/2542Journal Article;Recent studies have linked gestational exposure to highly caloric diets with a disrupted endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS). In the present study, we have extended these studies by analyzing the impact of the exposure to a palatable diet during gestation and lactation on a) the adult expression of endocannabinoid-related behaviors, b) the metabolic profile of adult offspring and c) the mRNA expression of the signaling machinery of the ECS in the hypothalamus, the liver and the adipose tissue of adult offspring of both sexes. Exposure to a palatable diet resulted in a) sex-dimorphic and perinatal diet specific feeding behaviors, including the differential response to the inhibitory effects of the cannabinoid receptor inverse agonist AM251, b) features of metabolic syndrome including increased adiposity, hyperleptinemia, hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia and c) tissue and sex-specific changes in the expression of both CB1 and CB2 receptors and in that of the endocannabinoid-degrading enzymes FAAH and MAGL, being the adipose tissue the most affected organ analyzed. Since the effects were observed in adult animals that were weaned while consuming a normal diet, the present results indicate that the ECS is one of the targets of maternal programming of the offspring energy expenditure. These results clearly indicate that the maternal diet has long-term effects on the development of pups through multiple alterations of signaling homeostatic pathways that include the ECS. The potential relevance of these alterations for the current obesity epidemic is discussed.enTejido adiposoAdiposidadNiños AdultosAnimalesCannabinoidesDietaEndocannabinoidesMetabolismo EnergéticoConducta alimentariaFemeninoHipercolesterolemiaHipertrigliceridemiaHipotálamoLactanciaHígadoMasculinoMetabolomaObesidadEmbarazoARN mensajeroReceptor cannabinoide CB2DesteteMedical Subject Headings::Anatomy::Tissues::Connective Tissue::Adipose TissueMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Metabolic Phenomena::Body Composition::Body Fat Distribution::AdiposityMedical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Adult ChildrenMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::AnimalsMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Organic Chemicals::Hydrocarbons::Terpenes::CannabinoidsMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Physiological Phenomena::Nutritional Physiological Phenomena::DietMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Chemical Actions and Uses::Pharmacologic Actions::Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action::Neurotransmitter Agents::EndocannabinoidsMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Metabolic Phenomena::Metabolism::Energy MetabolismMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms::Behavior::Feeding BehaviorMedical Subject Headings::Check Tags::FemaleMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases::Metabolic Diseases::Lipid Metabolism Disorders::Dyslipidemias::Hyperlipidemias::HypercholesterolemiaMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases::Metabolic Diseases::Lipid Metabolism Disorders::Dyslipidemias::Hyperlipidemias::HypertriglyceridemiaMedical Subject Headings::Anatomy::Nervous System::Central Nervous System::Brain::Limbic System::HypothalamusMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Reproductive and Urinary Physiological Phenomena::Reproductive Physiological Phenomena::Reproductive Physiological Processes::LactationMedical Subject Headings::Anatomy::Digestive System::LiverMedical Subject Headings::Check Tags::MaleMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Metabolic Phenomena::MetabolomeMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Physiological Phenomena::Body Constitution::Body Weights and Measures::Body Size::Body Weight::Overweight::ObesityMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Reproductive and Urinary Physiological Phenomena::Reproductive Physiological Phenomena::Reproductive Physiological Processes::Reproduction::PregnancyMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Nucleic Acids, Nucleotides, and Nucleosides::Nucleic Acids::RNA::RNA, MessengerMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins::Proteins::Membrane Proteins::Receptors, Cell Surface::Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled::Receptors, Cannabinoid::Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2Medical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Physiological Phenomena::Nutritional Physiological Phenomena::Nutrition Processes::Weaningresearch article27806128open access10.1371/journal.pone.01654321932-6203PMC5091916