Early-life growth hormone treatment to offspring of undernourished mothers alters metabolic parameters in primary adipocytes in adulthood

Growth Factors. 2014 Feb;32(1):34-40. doi: 10.3109/08977194.2013.870169. Epub 2014 Jan 7.

Abstract

Maternal undernutrition (UN) is associated with the development of obesity and metabolic complications in adult offspring. This study investigated the impact of preweaning growth hormone (GH) treatment on adipocyte functionality in adult male offspring. Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned either standard (C) or undernourished (UN) diet (50% ad libitum) throughout gestation. Postnatal day 3-21, male C/UN pups received either saline (CS, UNS) or GH (2.5 µg/g/d; CGH, UNGH) by subcutaneous injection. Primary adipocytes were isolated following the collagenase digestion of adipose tissue. Primary adipocytes from UN offspring had significantly increased the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines accompanied by increased cytokine/cytokine receptor expression. This correlated with increased TLR4/NF-κB signaling. While increased inflammatory potential was not observed in adipocytes derived from UNGH offspring, there was a clear alteration in the expression of genes relating to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism along with nutrient transporters. Overall, preweaning GH treatment alters detrimental patterns of development, which predispose UN offspring to obesity and insulin resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / metabolism*
  • Adipose Tissue
  • Animals
  • Biological Transport
  • Blood Glucose
  • Carbohydrate Metabolism / genetics
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Glucose Transporter Type 4 / biosynthesis
  • Growth Hormone / pharmacology*
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-1beta / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Lipid Metabolism / genetics
  • Male
  • Malnutrition / metabolism*
  • Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • PPAR gamma / biosynthesis
  • PPAR gamma / genetics
  • Pregnancy
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Cytokine / biosynthesis*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Cytokines
  • Glucose Transporter Type 4
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Interleukin-6
  • NF-kappa B
  • PPAR gamma
  • Receptors, Cytokine
  • Slc2a4 protein, rat
  • Tlr4 protein, rat
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interleukin-10
  • Growth Hormone