Maternal vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy affects expression of adipogenic-regulating genes peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) in lean male mice offspring.

Purpose: Maternal vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is a widespread issue that may have long-lasting consequences on offspring adiposity. We sought to determine how maternal vitamin D deficiency during the perinatal period would affect offspring adipose tissue development and gene expression.

Methods: Female C57BL/6 J mice were fed either a vitamin D deficient (VDD) or control diet from 4 weeks before pregnancy (periconception) until 7 days postparturition. Male offspring were weighed and euthanized at 75 days of age (early adult period), at which point serum was collected for biochemical analyses, and perigonadal and subcutaneous white adipose tissue (PGAT and SQAT, respectively) were excised, weighed, then flash-frozen for later histology and analyses of adipogenic gene expression.

Results: All adult male offspring were nonobese; there were no significant differences in body weight, adipose pad weight, or adipocyte size. However, VDD-exposed offspring had greater expression of the adipogenic-regulating genes peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (Pparg) and vitamin D receptor (Vdr).

Conclusions: This study suggests that exposure to vitamin D deficiency during the perinatal period can directly affect genes involved in the development of adipose tissue in nonobese offspring. These novel findings invite further investigation into the mechanisms by which maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy affects adipose development and metabolic health of offspring.