Lipid overacumulation in the fetal lung of diabetic rats: Effects of in vivo PPAR activation.

KURTZ, MELISA; MAZZUCCO, MARÍA BELÉN; CAREAGA, VALERIA; CAPOBIANCO, EVANGELINA; MAIER, MARTA; JAWERBAUM, ALICIA

Chicago

Congreso; 73rd Scientific Sessions American Diabetes Association (ADA); 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, lipid content (TLC), FA composition (GC), and lipid metabolizing enzymes (PCR) were evaluated. Results: In maternal diabetes, fetal lungs showed increased triglyceride concentrations (females) and increased triglyceride and phospholipid concentrations (males) when compared to controls. Expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1, acyl-CoA oxidase and FA synthase were low in male and female fetal lungs from diabetic rats when compared to controls. In maternal diabetes, treatments with OO and SO increased triglycerides in the female fetal lung, and treatments with OO increased phospholipids in the male fetal lung. Fetal lung FA composition did not change with gender and diabetic state, but both n-3 and n-6 unsaturated FA were increased in the fetal lung from diabetic rats treated with OO, and n-6 unsaturated FA were increased in the fetal lung from diabetic rats treated with SO. 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 the offspring later life.