High post-natal mortality associated with defects in lung maturation and reduced adiposity in mice with gestational exposure to high fat and N-acetylcysteine

Lyda Williams, Maureen J. Charron, Rani S. Sellers

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Studies have demonstrated that maternal consumption of a high fat diet (HFD) increases offspring susceptibility to metabolic disease. This study was initiated to identify the mechanistic contribution of oxidative stress on this phenomenon. Two weeks prior to mating, dams were fed either HFD or Control diet with or without supplementation with the anti-oxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Pups born to HFD dams had reduced crown rump length (CRL) at birth and higher neonatal mortality compared to pups from Control dams. Supplementation with NAC normalized CRL in pups from HFD dams, but notably increased mortality. Histological examination of the lungs postnatally and prenatally, revealed normal branching morphogenesis but delayed alveolarization in pups from dams fed HFD + NAC. Discontinuation of NAC at ED17.5 with re-introduction at PD3 improved offspring survival and lung maturation. Additionally, interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT) was reduced in ED18.5 embryos from HFD dams. These findings suggest that increased mortality in offspring from dams fed HFD + NAC during pregnancy may in part be the result of delayed pulmonary alveolarization and decreased BAT.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)262-265
Number of pages4
JournalResearch in Veterinary Science
Volume114
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2017

Keywords

  • High fat diet
  • Lung
  • Mouse
  • N-acetylcysteine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Veterinary

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