Effects of a Westernized Diet on the Reflexes and Physical Maturation of Male Rat Offspring During the Perinatal Period. Issue 11 (18th September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ferro Cavalcante, Taisy Cinthia; Lima da Silva, Jennyffer Mayara; da Marcelino da Silva, Amanda Alves; Muniz, Gisélia Santana; da Luz Neto, Laércio Marques; Lopes de Souza, Sandra; Manhães de Castro, Raul; Ferraz, Karla Mônica; do Nascimento, Elizabeth
• Is Part Of: Lipids. Volume 48:Issue 11(2013)
• Page Start: 1157
• Page End: 1168
• Publication Date: 2013-09-18
• Subjects: Gestation -- Lactation -- Western diet -- Neuro‐development -- Somatic growth -- Rats; Lipids -- Periodicals; Lipids -- Periodicals; Lipiden; Lipides -- Périodiques; 547.77
• DOI: 10.1007/s11745-013-3833-z
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0024-4201

Abstract

Abstract: This study evaluates the effects of a westernized diet during the perinatal period on the maternal performance and growth and development of rat offspring. Female Wistar rats were fed with either a control ( C ) diet, with casein as the protein source or a westernized ( W ) diet, during pregnancy and lactation. The pups were divided, eight per group, into the same diet groups as their dams. During lactation, the body weight (day 1, W = 6.85 ± 0.62 g, C = 5.81 ± 0.49, p < 0.05; day 21, W = 55.42 ± 3.78, C = 47.75 ± 3.45, p < 0.001) and somatic growth (body length day 1, W = 53.24 ± 2.16, C = 50.641 ± 1.79, p < 0.05; day 21, W = 124.8, C = 119.903 ± 3.71, p < 0.001) in the male offspring showed significant differences among the groups. The physical appearance and reflex maturation showed differences between day 1 and day 3. With the westernized diet, during the perinatal period, no alterations in maternal weight gain, gestation or performance were observed; however, changes in the coefficients of feed efficiency and energy during lactation were noted. Besides, blood glucose was found to be elevated at the end of lactation ( C = 3.67 ± 0.35 mmol/l, W = 5.2 0 ± 0.49 mmol/l). At 21 days, the male pups from the dams on the westernized diet were 15 % heavier, and the maturation of the neural reflexes and physical characteristics were found to occur earlier. Therefore, the consumption of a westernized diet during the perinatal period was independent of maternal energy intake, and influenced the growth and development of offspring.