Effects of maternal low protein diet associated to postnatal sugar consumption on the ventral prostate of aged rat offspring

Abstract

Epidemiological and experimental studies have shown that Maternal Protein Restriction (MPR) negatively affects the morphology of various organs and systems of the offspring, including the genital system. These effects can be potentiated with sedentary lifestyle and consumption of industrialized foods with a high "added sugars", especially by children. Recently, our group demonstrated that offspring rats submitted to MPR have a higher incidence of pre-neoplastic prostatic lesions and develop prostate cancer with aging. In this context, we aim to investigate the effects of MPR associated with sugar consumption in postnatal life on the metabolic profile and the incidence of prostatic lesions in the offspring of old rats. Male and female Sprague Dawley rats will be subjected to mating, and after being pregnant the rats will be divided into two groups: Control (CTR, n = 10): receive normoproteic diet (17% protein); and Gestational and Lactational Protein Restriction (RPGL, n = 10) will receive hypo protein diet (6% protein) during gestation and lactation. After weaning, the male offspring will be divided into 4 experimental groups (n = 10/group), which will receive normal diet: Control (CTR) will consume normal water from the postnatal day (PND) 21 until the PND 90; Control + sugar (CTR + AÇU) will consume sugar solution (10% diluted in water) from PND 21 to PND 90, GLP and Lactational Protein Restriction (GLLP) will receive water and normal diet ad libitum up to PND 90; (RGL + AUCU) will consume normal diet and sugar solution until PND 90. On PND 90, all animals will consume normal water and will be euthanized in PND 540. The nutritional status will be assessed by the serum analysis of total proteins, triglycerides and glucose. In the ventral prostate, oxidative stress markers will be evaluated by the quantification of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), as well as histopathological, immunohistochemical and biochemical analyzes in the ventral prostate of the different experimental groups. The results will aid in understanding the effects of maternal protein restriction associated with postnatal sugar consumption on metabolic and oxidative stress in the prostate with aging.