Sexual dimorphism in offspring response to maternal high-fat diet during preconception and diverse fatty acid sources in pregnancy and lactation.

OBJECTIVES: The influence of maternal diet and health conditions, such as insulin resistance, on offspring can be attributed to epigenetic mechanisms. Maternal high-fat (HF) diet is a crucial factor contributing to maternal obesity and insulin resistance, and is strongly associated with impaired parameters of offspring throughout life. On the other hand, a maternal ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) diet is associated with improved lipid metabolism, adiposity, inflammation, and enhanced insulin secretion and sensibility in offspring. In this study we aimed to evaluate the impact of maternal HF diet prior to pregnancy along with adequate quantities of different types of fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation on inflammatory and epigenetic parameters in both male and female 21-d-old offspring.

METHODS: Female Wistar rats were fed either HF or control diets for 8 wk before pregnancy, maintaining an adequate quantity of fatty acids from different sources until weaning. The hypothalamus and colon of 21-d-old male and female offspring were then evaluated.

RESULTS: Both males and females differentially expressed hypothalamic proinflammatory cytokines, as well as Sirtuin 1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α proteins. Additionally, proinflammatory cytokines in the colon and serum lipopolysaccharide levels differed between the sexes.

CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate the sexually dimorphic response of offspring to the maternal environment prior to and during pregnancy and lactation. These findings bring knowledge to future research that should consider the distinctive characteristics of males and females.