Impact of protein restriction during pregnancy and lactation on rat prostate: relation between the signaling pathway of Insulin/IGF, development and aging

Abstract

Adverse pregnancy conditions may cause irreversible morphological and functional changes in the fetus, a phenomenon known as Gestational Fetal Programming (GFP). In utero protein restriction, a GFP model widely studied is responsible for low birth weight and the development of insulin resistance and type II diabetes in adulthood. The GFP also alters the levels of steroid hormones and growth factors, such as insulin/IGF f axis in the offspring. The Insulin/IGF axis has been related to the prostate development and glandular disorders during aging. This project aims to characterize the insulin/IGF signaling pathway in the prostate during normal development and aging, as well as possible changes in this pathway caused gestational protein restriction in these periods. Sprague Dawley rats (CTR group) born to mothers fed a normal diet (17 % protein) or low protein diet (6 % protein) during pregnancy (RPG group) or during pregnancy and lactation (RPGL group) are employed in this study. The ventral prostatic lobes (VP) and blood samples will be collected on postnatal day (PND) 21 and 540. Hormonal and morphological and morphometric parameters will be made. It will be applied immunocytochemical, western blotting and RT-PCR protocols to describe the insulin/IGF signaling pathway in all experimental groups. In the animals of 540 days, the data of insulin/IGF axis will be correlated with quantification of potential prostatic disorders observed in this age. This project is part of the ongoing regular project approved by FAPESP (Proc. no. 2013/24230-5). (AU)