Intrauterine growth restriction in a model of pregestational visceral obesity
Keywords:
Visceral obesity; intrauterine growth; embryonic period; fetal periodAbstract
Introduction: Pregestational visceral obesity is associated with growth disturbances.
Objective: To evaluate embryonic and fetal growth and development in a visceral obesity model as well as to determine the timing of these disturbances.
Material and Methods: Female Wistar rats received monosodium glutamate (4 mg/g body weight) to induce obesity or 0.9% NaCl (Controls) subcutaneously during the neonatal period. Obesity was confirmed at 90 days of age, and at 120 days of age, rats were mated overnight with healthy males of the same strain. Day 0 of gestation was considered the morning in which copulation was confirmed by the presence of sperm in the vaginal lavage. Euthanasia was performed on days 11, 14, and 17 of gestation. Growth and development variables were determined in embryos and fetuses.
Results: Embryos from obese rats had a lower number of somites. In 14-day-old fetuses, weight, head length, brain area, and cerebellar area were lower in those of obese rats. On day 17 of gestation, all fetal growth indicators studied showed lower values in fetuses from obese rats.
Conclusions: Pregestational visceral obesity induced by monosodium glutamate in rats reduces offspring growth and development from the embryonic period, constituting a biomodel of intrauterine growth restriction.
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