Leptin serum concentration, food intake and body weight in rats whose mothers were exposed to malnutrition during lactation

• Published in: The Journal of nutritional biochemistry Vol. 13; no. 8; pp. 493 - 498
• Main Authors: Teixeira, Cı́ntia Vilanova, Passos, Magna Cottini Fonseca, Ramos, Cristiane da Fonte, Dutra, Sheila Cristina Potente, Moura, Egberto Gaspar de
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-08-2002; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Energy malnutrition; Lactation; Leptin; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Other nutritional diseases (malnutrition, nutritional and vitamin deficiencies...); Protein malnutrition; Rats; Rats; Protein malnutrition; Energy malnutrition; Lactation; Leptin; Feeding behavior; Rat; Body weight; Peptide hormone; Rodentia; Nutrition disorder; Corporal biometry; Maternal diseases; Feeding; Progeny; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Food intake; Mother young relation; Animal; Ob gene; Malnutrition; Low calorie diet
• ISSN: 0955-2863; 1873-4847
• DOI: 10.1016/S0955-2863(02)00197-3

We had shown that adult animals, whose mothers were submitted to protein or energy restriction during lactation, differ from controls in their body weight and thyroid function. The aim of this study was to evaluate, from birth through six months of age, leptin serum concentration, body weight and food intake in animals whose mothers received protein or energy restricted-diet during lactation as follows: control (C)—23% protein; protein-restricted (PR)—8% protein; energy-restricted (ER)—23% protein, in restricted quantity, according to the mean ingestion of the PR group. After weaning (day 21) all pups had free access the control diet. Body weight of pups from PR mothers were always lower than those from controls (p < 0.05), while body weight of pups from ER mothers surpassed that of the C group significantly at 140 days of age. The food intake was lower in both offspring from PR and ER mothers, normalizing on the 32th day in pups from ER mothers and on the 52th day in pups from PR mothers. Leptin serum concentration in both offspring from PR and ER mothers were significantly decreased on the 12th day (p < 0.05) and increased on the 21st day (p < 0.05) compared to control. After weaning there was no differences among the groups. It is possible that changes in leptin concentration during lactation in the offspring of malnourished groups could permanently modify the setpoint for body weight control.