Identification of molecular pathways in the Soleus Muscle of rats submitted to maternal protein restriction and physical exercise from the reanalysis of proteomic data

Abstract

Maternal malnutrition during the early stages of life (pregnancy and/or lactation) can promote adaptations that lead to changes in fetal genotype and development, altering postnatal physiology, a condition known as fetal programming. Such adaptations increase the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and changes in skeletal muscle. Among other stimuli, physical exercise can regulate the transcription of muscle-specific genes, altering muscle homeostasis. The objective of this work is to analyze the effects of aerobic physical exercise on the proteomic profile of the soleus muscle of adult rats submitted to perinatal maternal protein restriction. Male (90 days) Sprague Dawley rats, from mothers submitted to standard protein (17%-control) or low-protein (6%-restricted) diets throughout pregnancy and lactation, were divided into experimental groups (Sedentary Control-CS; Trained Control -CT; Restricted Sedentary-RS; Restricted Trained-RT). The animals in the trained groups were submitted to aerobic swimming exercise (8 weeks) with weekly progressive time/load until completing the first 3 weeks, with maximum time/load in the last 5 weeks. At 150 days, anatomical parameters such as body weight, fat and length were measured, an oral glucose tolerance test was performed, samples of the Soleus muscles (oxidative metabolism/slow contraction) were collected. In this project, proteins differentially expressed and exclusive in CT x CS, RS x CS and RT x RS comparisons, identified in proteomic analysis, using bioinformatics tools will be evaluated.