Perinatal malnutrition programs gene expression of leptin receptors isoforms in testis and prostate of adult rats

The aim of this paper was to evaluate if maternal malnutrition during lactation programs the expression of leptin receptor isoforms in the testes and prostate ventral lobe of adult rats. At delivery, Wistar rats were separated into 3 groups: control group (C) with free access to a standard laboratory diet containing 22% protein; protein-energy restricted group (PER) with free access to an isoenergy and protein-restricted diet containing 8% protein; and energy-restricted group (ER) receiving standard laboratory diet in restricted quantities, which were calculated according to the mean ingestion of the PER group. All animals were sacrificed at 90 days of age. Both PER and ER groups presented low body weight from the first days after birth, however, while the ER group reached the control weight around day 80, the body weight of PER group was significantly lower compared to controls until the day the animals were killed. In relation to tissue weight, only the relative testis weight of the ER group presented an alteration compared to the control group (p < 0.03). There was also no alteration in the leptin serum levels among the groups. The main leptin receptors isoforms, OBRa and OBRb were significantly increased in the testis (OBRa: C = 0.71 ± 0.10; PER = 1.14 ± 0.17; ER = 1.92 ± 0.70, p < 0.0007, OBRb: C = 0.87 ± 0.04; PER = 1.20 ± 0.05; ER = 1.44 ± 0.17, p < 0.001) and prostate (OBRa: C = 0.70 ± 0.18; PER = 1.30 ± 0.14; ER = 1.65 ± 0.22, p < 0.014, OBRb: C = 0.77 ± 0.14; PER = 1.16 ± 0.04; ER = 1.30 ± 0.13, p < 0.027) of both malnourished groups. However, the testis OBRc (C = 1.52 ± 0.06; PER = 1.35 ± 0.23; ER = 3.50 ± 0.72, p < 0.023) and OBRf (C = 1.31 ± 0.12; PER = 1.66 ± 0.27; ER = 3.47 ± 0.55, p < 0.009) and prostate OBRc (C = 0.48 ± 0.13; ER = 1.18 ± 0.34, p < 0.01) and OBRf (C = 0.73 ± 0.15; PER = 0.99 ± 0.11; ER = 1.83 ± 0.30, p < 0.016) isoforms were significantly increased only in the ER group. The results presented here show for the first time that both testis and prostate leptin receptor isoforms gene expression are programmed by perinatal malnutrition. These data further stress the importance of monitoring maternal and neonatal status, as well as other pathophysiological situations, to combat the appearance of long-term diseases.