Maternal Metformin Intervention during Obese Glucose-Intolerant Pregnancy Affects Adiposity in Young Adult Mouse Offspring in a Sex-Specific Manner |
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Authors: | Josca M Schoonejans Heather L Blackmore Thomas J Ashmore Catherine E Aiken Denise S Fernandez-Twinn Susan E Ozanne |
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Affiliation: | 1.University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Treatment Centre, Keith Day Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; (H.L.B.); (T.J.A.); (D.S.F.-T.);2.Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SW, UK; |
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Abstract: | Background: Metformin is commonly used to treat gestational diabetes mellitus. This study investigated the effect of maternal metformin intervention during obese glucose-intolerant pregnancy on the gonadal white adipose tissue (WAT) of 8-week-old male and female mouse offspring. Methods: C57BL/6J female mice were provided with a control (Con) or obesogenic diet (Ob) to induce pre-conception obesity. Half the obese dams were treated orally with 300 mg/kg/d of metformin (Ob-Met) during pregnancy. Gonadal WAT depots from 8-week-old offspring were investigated for adipocyte size, macrophage infiltration and mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory genes using RT-PCR. Results: Gestational metformin attenuated the adiposity in obese dams and increased the gestation length without correcting the offspring in utero growth restriction and catch-up growth caused by maternal obesity. Despite similar body weight, the Ob and Ob-Met offspring of both sexes showed adipocyte hypertrophy in young adulthood. Male Ob-Met offspring had increased WAT depot weight (p < 0.05), exaggerated adipocyte hyperplasia (p < 0.05 vs. Con and Ob offspring), increased macrophage infiltration measured via histology (p < 0.05) and the mRNA expression of F4/80 (p < 0.05). These changes were not observed in female Ob-Met offspring. Conclusions: Maternal metformin intervention during obese pregnancy causes excessive adiposity, adipocyte hyperplasia and WAT inflammation in male offspring, highlighting sex-specific effects of prenatal metformin exposure on offspring WAT. |
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Keywords: | gestational diabetes foetal programming metformin maternal obesity white adipose tissue sex differences |
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