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Methyl Donor Deficiency during Gestation and Lactation in the Rat Affects the Expression of Neuropeptides and Related Receptors in the Hypothalamus.
- Source :
-
International journal of molecular sciences [Int J Mol Sci] 2019 Oct 14; Vol. 20 (20). Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Oct 14. - Publication Year :
- 2019
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Abstract
- The micronutrients vitamins B9 and B12 act as methyl donors in the one-carbon metabolism involved in transmethylation reactions which critically influence epigenetic mechanisms and gene expression. Both vitamins are essential for proper development, and their deficiency during pregnancy has been associated with a wide range of disorders, including persisting growth retardation. Energy homeostasis and feeding are centrally regulated by the hypothalamus which integrates peripheral signals and acts through several orexigenic and anorexigenic mediators. We studied this regulating system in a rat model of methyl donor deficiency during gestation and lactation. At weaning, a predominance of the anorexigenic pathway was observed in deficient pups, with increased plasma peptide YY and increased hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA, in line with abnormal leptin, ghrelin, and insulin secretion and/or signaling during critical periods of fetal and/or postnatal development of the hypothalamus. These results suggest that early methyl donor deficiency can affect the development and function of energy balance circuits, resulting in growth and weight deficits. Maternal administration of folic acid (3 mg/kg/day) during the perinatal period tended to rectify peripheral metabolic signaling and central neuropeptide and receptor expression, leading to reduced growth retardation.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Appetite Depressants pharmacology
Energy Metabolism drug effects
Feeding Behavior drug effects
Female
Folic Acid pharmacology
Gene Expression Regulation drug effects
Gene Expression Regulation genetics
Ghrelin blood
Hypothalamus metabolism
Insulin blood
Insulin genetics
Lactation
Leptin blood
Leptin genetics
Methylation drug effects
Peptide YY blood
Pregnancy
Pro-Opiomelanocortin blood
RNA, Messenger genetics
Rats
Vitamin B 12 genetics
Vitamin B 12 pharmacology
Energy Metabolism genetics
Ghrelin genetics
Peptide YY genetics
Pro-Opiomelanocortin genetics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1422-0067
- Volume :
- 20
- Issue :
- 20
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- International journal of molecular sciences
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 31615150
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20205097