Fetal/neonatal protein restriction, insulin action and glucose homeostasis in adult life: effects on fasting and acute exercise

Abstract

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that poor fetal-neonatal nutrition predisposes adult animals to glucose homeostasis perturbations or diabetes. Pregnant and lactating rats were fed with an isocalorit low (6%) protein diet or a normal (17%) protein diet. The male offspring were tested at weaning (21 days) and in the adult age (90 days). From weaning on all animals were fed with the normal protein diet. At weaning the offspring born to low protein-fed dams had lower body weight, serum glucose and insulin, but higher Kitt than normal protein rats. The serum insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and oxidation by soleous muscle were not different from normal protein. At the adult age, despite of the lower weight, the offspring born to low protein-fed dams showed serum glucose, serum insulin and Kitt similar to the normal protein offspring. Soleous muscle glucose uptake and oxidation differed from normal protein rats. On the other hand, when submitted to 48 hours fast and acute exercise the protein restricted offspring showed reduced muscle glucose uptake and oxidation. These results indicate that poor fetal neonatal nutrition leads to adaptations which enable the maintenance of glucose homeostasis in some circunstancies. However, an inability to respond to different stresses may tip the balance towards glucose intolerance later in life.