Abstract
Objective: The main goal of the present study was to investigate the effects of two maternal high-fat diets with different energy densities on the somatic growth, reflex ontogeny, and locomotor activity of offspring.
Methods: Twenty-nine female Wistar rats (220–250 g) were mated and grouped into three different dietary conditions: control (n = 11, AIN-93G diet, 3.6 kcal/g), high-fat/high-caloric (HH, n = 9, 51% of the calories from fat, 4.62 kcal/g), and high-fat/isocaloric (HI, n = 9, 51% of the calories from fat, 3.64 kcal/g). The fat source was mainly lard. The dietary groups were maintained during gestation and lactation. From postnatal day 1 (PND1) until weaning, the somatic growth, maturation of physical features, and reflex ontogeny of the male pups were evaluated. The locomotor activity was evaluated in an open field at PND8, PND14, PND17, PND21, PND30, PND45, and PND60.
Results: HH dams had a lower food intake but no difference in caloric intake or body weight gain. The HH pups had higher body weights, greater tail and body lengths, and an increased axis of the head at weaning. The prediction of ear unfolding, delayed palmar grasp, and cliff avoidance maturation were also observed in the HH offspring. At PND60, the HH pups showed an increased average speed as well as an average potency and kinetic energy in the open field.
Conclusion: A high-fat/high-caloric maternal diet increases somatic growth, predicts the maturation of physical features, and delays reflex ontogeny during lactation, and it enhances motor performance during late adolescence. A maternal HI diet does not elicit the same influences on offspring development compared with the HH diet.
ORCID
Erika Vanesa Cadena-Burbano http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5231-0025
Carolina Cadete Lucena Cavalcanti http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3734-4272
Amanda Braz Lago http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2465-5442
Raquel de Arruda Campos Benjamim http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1639-2366
Thaynan Raquel dos Prazeres Oliveira http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8243-3947
Jacqueline Maria Silva http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4808-9935
Raul Manhães-De-Castro http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5309-2031
Raquel Da Silva Aragão http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0630-7030