The role of uterus mitochondrial function in high-fat diet-related adverse pregnancy outcomes and protection by resveratrol

Food Funct. 2024 May 7;15(9):4852-4861. doi: 10.1039/d4fo00671b.

Abstract

This study elucidates the mechanism of obesity-related adverse pregnancy outcomes and further investigates the effect of resveratrol on reproductive performance in a short- or long-term HFD-induced obese mouse model. Results show that maternal weight had a significant positive correlation with litter mortality in mice. A long-term HFD increased body weight and litter mortality with decreased expression of uterine cytochrome oxidase 4 (COX4), which was recovered by resveratrol in mice. Moreover, HFD decreased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), nuclear respiratory factors-1 (Nrf-1), and phosphorylated adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) and increased the expression of phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinases (p-ERK) in the uterus. Resveratrol, a polyphenol that can directly bind to the ERK protein, suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK, increased the expression of p-AMPK, PGC-1α and Nrf-1, and decreased litter mortality in mice.

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Diet, High-Fat* / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mitochondria* / drug effects
  • Mitochondria* / metabolism
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha / genetics
  • Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Outcome*
  • Resveratrol* / pharmacology
  • Uterus* / drug effects
  • Uterus* / metabolism

Substances

  • Resveratrol
  • Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases