Participation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the weight-gain and sensitization to LPS exposure in a maternal obesity model.

BARIANI, MV; DOMÍNGUEZ RUBIO, AP; AISEMBERG, J; FRANCHI, AM

Congreso; VI Latin American Symposium on Maternal-Fetal Interaction and Placenta and V Latin American Symposium on Reproductive Immunology; 2015

ECS participates in the control of energy balance and regulates reproductive functions. Objectives: a) To evaluate whether a high fat diet (HFD) intake promotes development of obesity in females CD1 wild type (WT) and cannabinoid receptor type 1 knockout (CB1KO) mice. b) To analyze whether HDF-induced maternal obesity alters gestation, pups development and sensitization to LPS exposure. Methods: Females CD1 WT and CB1KO mice were fed with standard food (control) or HFD (standard food+30% fat). Animals were weighted and food intake was measured. After 3 months of feeding, abdominal adipose tissue was weighted. Serum glucose and cholesterol levels were also quantified. Obese and control females were paired with control CD1 males. We evaluated pregnancy rate and length and litter size. After delivery, pups were weighted during the lactation period. Additionally, LPS (0.05 µg/g) was administered to 15-day pregnant mice and delivery was registered. Results: Weight-gain was higher in HFD-fed animals than in control and in CB1KO than in WT mice. We did not found differences in the daily intake of kilocalories. Abdominal adipose tissue weight increased in HFD-fed animals, in both WT and CB1KO mice. Additionally, we found an increased in serum cholesterol levels in animals fed with HFD, with higher levels in CB1KO when compared to WT. No differences in pregnancy rate and length or in litter size were found. However, pups born to obese mothers had higher weight-gain during lactation period. Almost 75% of LPS-treated WT mothers presented a defective labor in contrast to 22% in the case of CB1KO mice. Interestingly, when exposed to LPS, up to 50% of the HFD-fed CB1KO mice presented a defective labor. Conclusions: Our results suggest that ECS is involved in the development of maternal obesity, which then has consequences in pups. In addition, obesity sensitized mothers to endotoxin treatment.