Effect of maternal use of flaxseed oil during pregnancy and lactation on glucose metabolism and pancreas histomorphometry of male offspring from diabetic rats

AimInvestigate if the maternal use of flaxseed oil prevents pancreatic alterations in the offspring of diabetic mothers.MethodsDiabetes was induced in female wistar rats (n = 12) by a high-fat diet and low-dose of streptozotocin. After the confirmation of the diabetes (glucose >300 mg/dL), rats were mated and once pregnancy was confirmed, they were allocated into three groups (n = 6): high-fat group (HFG); flaxseed oil group (FOG); and control group (CG) (nondiabetic rats). At weaning, male offspring (n = 12/group) received a standard chow diet. The animals were euthanized in two phases: at 100 and at 180 days, (n = 6/group). The pancreas was collected for histomorphometric and immunohistochemistry analysis.ResultsHFG showed hypertrophy of pancreatic islets at 100 and at 180 days (p < 0.0001), while the FOG offspring had islets with smaller diameters compared to HFG at both phases of sacrifice (p < 0.0001). HFG had a lower percentage of small islets when compared to CG and FOG, which had a higher percentage when compared to HFG (p = 0.0053) at 100 days. At 180 days HFG showed higher percentage of larger islets (p = 0.00137) and lower percentage of smaller islets (p = 0.00112), when compared to FOG. HFG showed lower islet insulin immunodensity at 100 days (p < 0.0001) and 180 days (p < 0.0001), whereas FOG was similar to CG (p < 0.0001) at 100 days and higher at 180 days (p < 0.0001).ConclusionsFlaxseed oil reduced the damage caused by maternal hyperglycemia, promoting normal pancreas histomorphometry and β cell mass.