Early onset of fatty liver in growth-restricted rat fetuses and newborns

Makiko Yamada, Diana Wolfe, Guang Han, Samuel W. French, Michael G. Ross, Mina Desai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

Intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) newborns have increased risk of adult metabolic syndrome, including fatty liver. However, it is unclear whether the fatty liver development is "programmed" or secondary to the accompanying obesity. In this study, we examined hepatic lipid accumulation and lipid-regulatory factors (sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c and fatty acid synthase) in IUGR and Control fetal (embryonic day 20; e20) and newborn (postnatal day 1; p1) rat pups. Notably, despite of in utero undernutrition state, IUGR fetuses demonstrated "fatty liver" with upregulation of these lipogenic indices at as early as e20. Both IUGR and Control newborns exhibited the same extent of massive increase in hepatic lipid content, whereas IUGR newborns continued to exhibit upregulated lipogenic indices. The persistent upregulation of the lipogenic indices in fetal and newborn IUGR suggests that fatty liver is gestationally programmed. Our study suggested that IUGR offspring were born with an altered metabolic life strategy of increased fuel/lipid storage which could be a distinct metabolic pathway of the thrifty phenotype.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)167-173
Number of pages7
JournalCongenital Anomalies
Volume51
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Fatty acid synthase
  • Fatty liver
  • Intrauterine growth retardation
  • Programming
  • Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Embryology
  • Developmental Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Early onset of fatty liver in growth-restricted rat fetuses and newborns'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this