Neonatal streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mothers promotes metabolic programming of adipose tissue in male rat offspring

AimsMaternal hyperglycemia during pregnancy can lead to fetal changes, like macrosomia or obesity in adult life. Experimental models of diabetes have been studied to evaluate the consequences of offspring lipid metabolism. This study aimed to investigate the metabolic changes in adipose tissue of offspring of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mothers during neonatal period.Main methodsDiabetes was induced in female rats by streptozotocin administration on 5th day of life. In adulthood, female rats were bred with control male rats. Male puppies were sacrificed on 12th week of life and epididymal (EP) and subcutaneous (SC) adipose fat pads were excised and weighted. Adipocytes were isolated and evaluated for basal and insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake, oxidation of glucose into CO2, and incorporation of glucose into lipids and lipolytic capacity.Key findingsBody weight, EP fat pad weight and diameter of adipocytes from offspring of diabetic mothers were increased in comparison to offspring of control mothers. EP adipocytes from offspring of diabetic mothers presented increased basal and insulin stimulated glucose uptake in comparison to control ones. Similar pattern was observed for glucose oxidation into CO2 and incorporation into lipids. However, significant difference in lipolytic capacity in vitro was not observed. Protein content of GLUT4, insulin receptor and acetyl-CoA carboxylase was significantly increased in EP fat pad of offspring of diabetic mothers in relation to control group.SignificanceMetabolic programming occurred in the adipose tissue of offspring of diabetic mothers, increasing its capacity to store lipids with no changes in lipolytic capacity.