Skinny fat model of metabolic syndrome induced by a high-salt/sucrose diet in young male rats.

Childhood and puberty can affect metabolism, leading to tissue injury and malfunction later in life. The consumption of high-processed foods rich in salt and sugar is increasing in middle- and high-income countries, especially among young people. It is necessary to evaluate the effects of high salt and sugar levels in the youth on most injured organs during metabolic challenges.

GHSR signalling in perinatal phases is involved in liver metabolism at puberty.

Ghrelin has effects that range from the maturation of the central nervous system to the regulation of energy balance. The production of ghrelin increases significantly during the first weeks of life. Studies have addressed the metabolic effects of liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2) in inhibiting the effects evoked by ghrelin, mainly in glucose homeostasis, insulin resistance, and lipid metabolism.

Early Methylglyoxal Exposure Leads to Worsened Cardiovascular Function in Young Rats.

Background: Though maternal diabetes effects are well described in the literature, the effects of maternal diabetes in postnatal phases are often overlooked. Diabetic individuals have higher levels of circulating glycotoxins, and there is a positive correlation between maternal-derived glycotoxins and circulating glycotoxins in their progeny. Previous studies evaluated the metabolic effects of high glycotoxin exposure during lactation in adult animals.

Sodium overload during postnatal phases impairs diastolic function and exacerbates reperfusion arrhythmias in adult rats.

Sodium overload during childhood impairs baroreflex sensitivity and increases arterial blood pressure and heart rate in adulthood; these effects persist even after high-salt diet (HSD) withdrawal. However, the literature lacks details on the effects of HSD during postnatal phases on cardiac ischemia/reperfusion responses in adulthood. The current study aimed to elucidate the impact of HSD during infancy adolescence on isolated heart function and cardiac ischemia/reperfusion responses in adulthood.

Angiotensin-(1-7) Treatment Early in Life Prevents Cardiac Hypertrophy in Adult Hypertensive Rats.

Angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7) is a cardioprotective peptide of the renin-angiotensin system. Prepuberty has been considered as a later susceptible window of development, and stressful factors in this life phase can induce chronic diseases in adulthood. We aimed to investigate whether the treatment with Ang-(1-7) during the prepuberty could attenuate the development of hypertension and cardiac injury in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).

Puberty as a DOHaD programming window: high-fat diet induces long-term hepatic dysfunction in male rats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether high-fat (HF) diet intake during puberty can program obesity as well as generate glucose imbalance and hepatic metabolic dysfunctions in adult life. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into two groups: rats fed standard chow (NF) and rats fed a HF from postnatal 30-day-old (PND30) until PND60. Then, both groups were fed a standard chow from PND60 until PND120.

Postnatal Overfeeding in Rodents Induces a Neurodevelopment Delay and Anxious-like Behaviour Accompanied by Sex- and Brain-Region-Specific Synaptic and Metabolic Changes.

Nutritional disturbances during the early postnatal period can have long-lasting effects on neurodevelopment and may be related to behavioural changes at adulthood. While such neuronal connection disruption can contribute to social and behaviour alterations, the dysregulation of the neuroendocrine pathways involved in nutrient-sensing balance may also cause such impairments, although the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. We aimed to evaluate sex-specific neurodevelopmental and behavioural changes upon postnatal overfeeding and determine the potential underpinning mechanisms at the central nervous system level, with a focus on the interconnection between synaptic and neuroendocrine molecular alterations.

Sex-specificities in offspring neurodevelopment and behaviour upon maternal glycation: Putative underlying neurometabolic and synaptic changes.

Aim: Lactation is an important programming window for metabolic disease and neuronal alterations later in life. We aimed to study the effect of maternal glycation during lactation on offspring neurodevelopment and behaviour, assessing possible sex differences and underpinning molecular players.

Methods: Female Wistar rats were treated with Glyoxalase-1 inhibitor S-p-Bromobenzylguthione cyclopentyl diester (BBGC 5 mg/kg).

Exposure to Obesogenic Environments during Perinatal Development Modulates Offspring Energy Balance Pathways in Adipose Tissue and Liver of Rodent Models.

Obesogenic environments such as Westernized diets, overnutrition, and exposure to glycation during gestation and lactation can alter peripheral neuroendocrine factors in offspring, predisposing for metabolic diseases in adulthood. Thus, we hypothesized that exposure to obesogenic environments during the perinatal period reprograms offspring energy balance mechanisms. Four rat obesogenic models were studied: maternal diet-induced obesity (DIO); early-life obesity induced by postnatal overfeeding; maternal glycation; and postnatal overfeeding combined with maternal glycation.

Intrauterine malnutrition disrupts leptin and ghrelin milk hormones, programming rats.

Herein, we assessed milk hormones, the biochemical composition of milk, and its association with neonatal body weight gain and metabolic homeostasis in weaned rats whose mothers were undernourished in the last third of pregnancy. From the 14th day of pregnancy until delivery, undernourished mothers had their food restricted by 50% (FR50), whereas control mothers were fed ad libitum. The litter size was adjusted to eight pups, and rats were weaned at 22 days old.

Protein Restriction in the Peri-Pubertal Period Induces Autonomic Dysfunction and Cardiac and Vascular Structural Changes in Adult Rats.

Perturbations to nutrition during critical periods are associated with changes in embryonic, fetal or postnatal developmental patterns that may render the offspring more likely to develop cardiovascular disease in later life. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether autonomic nervous system imbalance underpins in the long-term hypertension induced by dietary protein restriction during peri-pubertal period. Male Wistar rats were assigned to groups fed with a low protein (4% protein, LP) or control diet (20.

Maternal postnatal early overfeeding induces sex-related cardiac dysfunction and alters sexually hormones levels in young offspring.

Postnatal early overfeeding (PO) is a risk factor for cardiometabolic disorders. However, remains unknown the cardiac effects in the second generation from postnatal overfed dams. Our aim was to investigate the effects of maternal PO on cardiac parameters in second generation (F2) offspring.

Lean in one way, in obesity another: effects of moderate exercise in brown adipose tissue of early overfed male Wistar rats.

Background: Early postnatal overfeeding (PO) induces long-term overweight and reduces brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis. Exercise has been suggested as a possible intervention to increase BAT function. In this study, we investigated chronical effects of moderate-intensity exercise in BAT function in postnatal overfed male Wistar rats METHODS: Litters' delivery was on postnatal-day 0 - PN0.

Metformin Improves Autonomic Nervous System Imbalance and Metabolic Dysfunction in Monosodium L-Glutamate-Treated Rats.

Metformin is an antidiabetic drug used for the treatment of diabetes and metabolic diseases. Imbalance in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is associated with metabolic diseases. This study aimed to test whether metformin could improve ANS function in obese rats.

The Role of Astrocytes in the Neurorepair Process.

Astrocytes are highly specialized glial cells responsible for trophic and metabolic support of neurons. They are associated to ionic homeostasis, the regulation of cerebral blood flow and metabolism, the modulation of synaptic activity by capturing and recycle of neurotransmitters and maintenance of the blood-brain barrier. During injuries and infections, astrocytes act in cerebral defense through heterogeneous and progressive changes in their gene expression, morphology, proliferative capacity, and function, which is known as reactive astrocytes.

Soy isoflavones recover pancreatic islet function and prevent metabolic dysfunction in male rats.

We tested whether chronic supplementation with soy isoflavones could modulate insulin secretion levels and subsequent recovery of pancreatic islet function as well as prevent metabolic dysfunction induced by early overfeeding in adult male rats. Wistar rats raised in small litters (SL, three pups/dam) and normal litters (NL, nine pups/dam) were used as models of early overfeeding and normal feeding, respectively. At 30 to 90 days old, animals in the SL and NL groups received either soy isoflavones extract (ISO) or water (W) gavage serving as controls.

Metabolic Disease Programming: From Mitochondria to Epigenetics, Glucocorticoid Signalling and Beyond.

Embryonic and foetal development are critical periods of development in which several environmental cues determine health and disease in adulthood. Maternal conditions and an unfavourable intrauterine environment impact foetal development and may programme the offspring for increased predisposition to metabolic diseases and other chronic pathologic conditions throughout adult life. Previously, non-communicable chronic diseases were only associated with genetics and lifestyle.

Medullary Noradrenergic Neurons Mediate Hemodynamic Responses to Osmotic and Volume Challenges.

Despite being involved in homeostatic control and hydro-electrolyte balance, the contribution of medullary (A1 and A2) noradrenergic neurons to the hypertonic saline infusion (HSI)-induced cardiovascular response after hypotensive hemorrhage (HH) remains to be clarified. Hence, the present study sought to determine the role of noradrenergic neurons in HSI-induced hemodynamic recovery in male Wistar rats (290-320 g) with HH. Medullary catecholaminergic neurons were lesioned by nanoinjection of antidopamine-β-hydroxylase-saporin (0.

Centrally acting antihypertensives change the psychogenic cardiovascular reactivity.

Clonidine (CL) and Rilmenidine (RI) are among the most frequently prescribed centrally acting antihypertensives. Here, we compared CL and RI effects on psychogenic cardiovascular reactivity to sonant, luminous, motosensory, and vibrotactile stimuli during neurogenic hypertension. The femoral artery and vein of Wistar (WT - normotensive) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were catheterized before (24 h interval) i.

Brain and kidney GHS-R1a underexpression is associated with changes in renal function and hemodynamics during neurogenic hypertension.

Ghrelin is a peptide hormone whose effects are mediated by the growth hormone secretagogue receptor subtype 1a (GHS-R1a), mainly expressed in the brain but also in kidneys. The hypothesis herein raised is that GHS-R1a would be player in the renal contribution to the neurogenic hypertension pathophysiology. To investigate GHS-R1a role on renal function and hemodynamics, we used Wistar (WT) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Long-term effects of early overfeeding and food restriction during puberty on cardiac remodeling in adult rats.

Nutritional disorders during the perinatal period cause cardiometabolic dysfunction, which is observable in the early overfeeding (EO) experimental model. Therefore, severe caloric restriction has the potential of affecting homeostasis through the same epigenetic mechanisms, and its effects need elucidation. This work aims to determine the impact of food restriction (FR) during puberty in early overfed obese and non-obese animals in adult life.

Whey protein sweetened with Bertoni (Bert.) increases mitochondrial biogenesis markers in the skeletal muscle of resistance-trained rats.

Background: A combination of resistance training and whey protein supplementation is a common practice among athletes and recreational exercisers to enhance muscle growth and strength. Although their safety as food additives is controversial, artificial sweeteners are present in whey protein supplements. Thus, natural sweeteners extracted from the leaves of are a potential alternative, due to their safety and health benefits.

Moderate exercise training since adolescence reduces Walker 256 tumour growth in adult rats.

Key Points: Cancer growth, cell proliferation and cachexia index can be attenuated by the beneficial programming effect of moderate exercise training, especially if it begins in adolescence. Walker 256 tumour-bearing rats who started exercise training during adolescence did not revert the basal low glycaemia and insulinaemia observed before tumour cell inoculation. The moderate exercise training improved glucose tolerance and peripheral insulin sensitivity only in rats exercised early in adolescence.

Forced internal desynchrony induces cardiometabolic alterations in adult rats.

Disruptions in circadian rhythms have been associated with several diseases, including cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Forced internal desynchronization induced by a period of T-cycles of 22 h (T22 protocol) reaches the lower limit of entrainment and dissociates the circadian rhythmicity of the locomotor activity into two components, driven by different outputs from the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The main goal of this study was to evaluate the cardiovascular and metabolic response in rats submitted to internal desynchronization by T22 protocol.