Effects of maternal diets on birth outcomes, brain lipids and apoptosis in rats exposed to ethanol during gestation
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Date
2020-08-14
Authors
Wang, Yidi
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Abstract
Maternal nutritional status is an important determinant of the severity of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). This study examined the effects of a standard chow and a semi-purified energy dense (E-dense) diet on birth outcomes and brain lipids in rats with prenatal ethanol (EtOH) exposure. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into four groups: chow, chow+EtOH (20% v/v), E-dense, and E-dense+EtOH. EtOH decreased body weight in chow-fed dams and litter sizes in both diet groups. At postnatal day 7, maternal E-dense diet increased body and liver weights and plasma lipids, but decreased relative brain weights and docosahexaenoic acid in the cerebellum and hippocampus of pups compared to those from chow-fed dams. No significant changes were observed on ceramides. While the long-lasting effect of maternal E-dense diet in pups is unknown, this study highlights the importance of maternal nutrition on offspring growth and suggests it as a potential strategy for alleviating FASD.
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Keywords
Prenatal ethanol exposure, Maternal diet, Birth outcomes, Ceramides, Apoptosis