Programming fetal protein restriction: evaluation structural and molecular structure of weaned and adult rats testis

Abstract

The fetal programming is the permanent answer on the structure and functions of the organism to stimuli occurs during the critical period of intrauterine development. There are several environmental factors influencing the life during fetal development may lead to "fetal programming". Among them, we can mention the food restriction or maternal deficiency of specific nutrients. Rats submmited to the adverse conditions in the energy balance can be modified testicular development and may impair reproductive capacity by suppressing the secretion of the LH, FSH, PRL, IGF-I and testosterone hormones. The mechanisms by which nutritional and energy states affect the balance of the reproductive function, probably involving the role of leptin and ghrelin. However, the actions of these hormones on a variety of reproductive parameters have not yet been fully characterized. Thus, the objectives this study is to investigate the pattern of histological, immunohistochemical, morphometric and molecular Wistar rats testis (21 and 120 days of age) of mothers submmited to protein restriction during pregnancy and lactation. The Wistar rats, male and female will be used. After detection of pregnancy the females will be transferred to individual boxes. Group 1: Dams fed during gestation and lactation normal protein diet ad libitum (17%), Group 2: Dams fed during pregnancy and lactation low-protein diet ad libitum (6%). Eight pups are kept with their mother in individual cages during the lactation period. After weaning, one male rat from each litter will be sacrificed. The remaining rats receive standard laboratory chow diet and water ad libitum until the age of 120 days. This study will provide new insights into the research area developed at the Department of Anatomy (IBB / UNESP) by the research team in Biology of Reproduction. (AU)