Epigenetic disruption of placental genes by chronic maternal cafeteria diet in rats

GASTIAZORO MP; ROSSETTI MF; DURANDO M; STOKER C; SCHUMACHER, R.; RAMOS J G; VARAYOUD J

Congreso; REUNIÓN DE SOCIEDADES DE BIOCIENCIAS 2020; 2020

Cafeteria (CAF) diet is an experimental rodent model which reflects variety, palatability, and energy density food of western diet habits. Previous results indicated that CAF diet alters fertility and pregnancy performance, although the mechanism involved remains unknown. Our aims were to study the effects of a maternal CAF diet on feto-placental parameters on embryonic day 21 (E21) and to analyse the implications of key placental systems: insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Female Wistar rats were fed with control (CON) diet (pellets) or CAF diet (i.e.: cheese snacks, sweet biscuits and chocolate) starting at weaning. After 14th week of feeding, females were mated and half of the animals of each group were euthanized at E21. We determined fetal weight and length, and placental weight and index (placental weight/fetal weight). The rest of the animals were maintained until delivery with their respective diet to assess the weight of pups at birth. Placentas were collected for mRNA quantification of IGF1, IGF1 receptor (R), IGF2, IGF2R, VEGF and VEGFR and for DNA methylation analysis of their promoter regions. CAF diet produced a decrease of placental weight (p