MATERNAL ADMINISTRATION OF SODIUM BUTYRATE PREVENTS MACROSOMIA AND LIVER LIPID OVERACCUMULATION IN FETUSES FROM OBESE RATS

SABRINA LORENA ROBERTI; VERÓNICA WHITE; MARÍA FLORENCIA HEINECKE; DALMIRO GOMEZ RIBOT; DAIANA FORNES; ALICIA JAWERBAUM

Congreso; LXIV Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Clínica (SAIC); 2019

Maternal programming of metabolic alterations is considered a cause for the worldwide increase in obesity. Fetal macrosomia precedes the programming of metabolic derangements. Moreover, fetal liver lipid overaccumulation is a clear predictor of fatty liver later in life. Sodium butyrate (SB), a short chain fatty acid produced by the gut microbiota, plays an important role in metabolic homeostasis. It stimulates adipose lipolysis, liver lipid oxidation, glucose homeostasis and protects gut barrier function. Our aim was to evaluate whether maternal administration of sodium butyrate (SB) prevents the development of macrosomia and liver lipid overaccumulation in fetuses from obese rats. Methods: Female Wistar rats were fed with standard or saturated fat diet (28 % fat) since they were 6 week-old (FD rats). After 8 weeks, they were mated with control males. SB was given orally (3 %) to FD rats during pregnancy (FD+SB rats). Control, FD+SB, and FD rats were euthanized at 21 days of gestation. Fetuses were explanted, weighed and maternal plasma obtained. Plasma glucose, triglycerides (TG) and cholesterol levels were assessed by colorimetric assays. Fetal livers were explanted, weighed and saved for lipid levels evaluations by TLC (TG, Cholesterol (Ch) and Cholesterol Esters (Ch. E.) were assessed). Maternal TG were increased in plasma from FD rats (36 %vs. CT, p