Metabolic outcomes in the offspring born to mothers subjected to constant light schedules during pregnancy or lactation

Abstract

Several recent studies have demonstrated that Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and peripheral insulin resistance display programming features that are inwardly connected to maternal conditions during pregnancy and lactation. In this sense, it has been widely reported that gestational undernutrition, obesity and insulin resistance programs increased risk of T2Dm in the offspring. Recent reports also show that shifts in the light dark cycle during pregnancy are able to program glucose intolerance in the offspring through mechanisms not yet clarified. It is known that changes in the light/dark cycle can disrupt the rhythms of endocrine secretions particularly that of melatonin. Recently, our group has demonstrated that absence of melatonin during pregnancy and lactation programs glucose intolerance in the offspring due to hepatic insulin resistance and defective insulin release. Thus the present project aims to investigate if the offspring born to mothers exposed to constant light during pregnancy and/or lactation display changes in energy metabolism in adult life. We also will investigate whether these transmission are due to suppression of melatonin secretion. The parameters to be evaluated are whole body glucose intolerance, glucose production, insulin sensitivity. Key steps of insulin signaling will be assessed in the liver and in the skeletal muscle.