Abstract
CONTEXT: Adipokines secreted by fat cells are vital to the control of energy metabolism, communicating the nutrient status with the tissues responsible for controlling both energy intake and expenditure and insulin sensitivity. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to prove in an experimental animal study that maternal obesity has long term adverse fetal metabolic consequences, which pass on even to the next generation of descendants. DESIGN: The effects of maternal obesity have been studied on animal model using 50 obese female Wistar rats, in which we induced obesity by high-calorie high-fat diet administered by gavage. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Obese rat females were sacrificed at gestation term and we analyzed the secretion of adipokines from maternal venous blood: leptin and adiponectin, placental, pancreatic, liver and brain homogenates lipid peroxidation levels estimated by: MDA (malonyl-dialdehyde), total thiols and GSH - as antioxidant factors and routine biochemistry. RESULTS: Low levels of adiponectin and increased levels of leptin positively correlated with the value of placental and fetal tissue lipid peroxidation (from the liver, pancreas and brain) measured by elevated MDA and total thiols and low levels of GSH. The lipid peroxidation in the organs examined generated consistent results, showing high levels of peroxidation expressed through high values of MDA in the groups with Omega 6 supplements respectively no supplementation, and low levels of antioxidants expressed through glutathione and thiols. CONCLUSIONS: Endocrine secretion of adipokines from the adipocytes and the recruited macrophages of obese mothers is positively correlated with placental and tissue lipid peroxidation level and routine biochemical parameters.