Liver Morphophysiology and Maternal Protein Restriction: Consequences on metabolism and cellular stress

Abstract

Adversities during pregnancy and/or lactation can cause problems in the offspring, affecting various organs and systems, an effect called fetal programming. One of the models related to this context is maternal protein restriction (MPR), which reduces the number of nephrons, alters hypothalamic neurons and increases the incidence of prostate cancer, in addition to altering important hormones, such as corticosterone. In addition, MPR affects liver morphophysiology, an important organ for central metabolism, which can lead to negative effects on macromolecule metabolism, from hormonal imbalance and oxidative stress factors. Thus, the objective of this project is to evaluate the effects of maternal protein restriction on the morphophysiology and hepatic metabolism of animals on postnatal day (PND) 21, with emphasis on oxidative stress. For this, male Sprague Dawley rats submitted to MPR will be used, divided into 2 groups: Rats born to mothers fed a normoproteic diet (CTR, 17% protein) or low protein diet (GLLP, 6%) during pregnancy and lactation . At PND 21, the animals will be euthanized and the livers will be collected. The samples will be used for morphological analysis, immunohistochemistry and protein expression factors that regulate metabolism and histophysiological parameters, such as the analysis of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD and GSH), to evaluate the effects on oxidative and cellular stress. The expected results are that MPR directly affects liver morphophysiology and, from this initial stress, even at the beginning of life, there may be a susceptibility to more incisive metabolic changes throughout life and aging, which can lead to metabolic diseases and/or tissue.