Lipid Overacumulation in the Fetal Lung of Diabetic rats: Effects of In Vivo PPAR Activation

KURTZ M; MAZZUCCO MB; CAREAGA V; CAPOBIANCO E; MAIER M; JAWERBAUM A

Chicago

Congreso; American diabetes association; 2013

Maternal diabetes impairs fetal lung development, leading to adverse perinatal and offspring later life consequences. We previously demonstrated the role of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) as regulators of lipid homeostasis in placenta and fetal liver tissues. We aim to determine lipid concentrations, fatty acid (FA) composition and expression of PPAR target enzymes related to lipid homeostasis in the fetal lung from control and diabetic rats treated or not with diets enriched in unsaturated FA capable of activating PPARs. Methods: Control and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were treated during gestation with diets enriched or not in 6% olive oil (OO, 354% enriched in oleic acid) or 6% safflower oil (SO, 226% enriched in linoleic acid). On day 21 of gestation, fetal lung lipid content (TLC), FA composition (GC), and lipid metabolism enzymes (PCR) were evaluated. Results: In maternal diabetes, female fetal lungs showed increased triglyceride concentrations (88%) and male fetal lungs increased triglyceride (144%) and phospholipid (38%) concentrations when compared to controls(p 0.05). Expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1, acyl-CoA oxidase and FA transporter were lower in female and male fetal lungs from diabetic rats than in controls (p 0.05). In maternal diabetes, treatments with OO or SO increased triglycerides in the female fetal lung, and treatments with OO increased phospholipids in the male fetal lung (p0.05). Fetal lung FA composition did not change with gender and diabetic state, but unsaturated FA were increased in the fetal lung from diabetic rats treated with both OO or SO (18:2 50%-60%, 20:3 50%-70%, 22:5 50%-35% respectively) when compared to controls (p 0.05). Conclusions: Maternal diets enriched in unsaturated FA capable of activating PPARs induced changes in fetal lung lipid content and composition, leading to an increase in unsaturated FA that may benefit lung function in the perinatal period and in offspring in later life.