Authors

Ying Cheong, M.D., Khaled H. Sadek, M.B.B.S., Kimberley D. Bruce, Ph.D., Nick Macklon, M.D., Felino Ramon Cagampang, Ph.D.

Volume 102, Issue 3, Pages 899-907

Abstract

Objective:

To examine the effects of high-fat (HF) diet–induced maternal obesity on follicular population and gene expression in adult offspring ovaries.

Design:

Experimental mouse study.

Setting:

Laboratory.

Animal(s):

Mice on HF diet.

Intervention(s):

Female C57BL/6J mice were fed an HF or standard chow (C) diet 6 weeks before conception, through pregnancy and lactation. Offspring were fed the C or HF diet from weaning, creating the HF/HF, HF/C, C/HF, C/C offspring groups.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

Follicular counts and gene expression in adult offspring ovaries.

Result(s):

Prenatal exposure to maternal HF nutrition resulted in the reduction of primordial, antral, and Graafian follicle numbers in offspring ovaries (both HF/C and HF/HF). Expression levels of genes involved in apoptosis (FoXO3a), follicular growth and development (Gdf9), and circadian rhythms generation (Clock and Bmal1) were elevated in the ovaries of HF/C and HF/HF offspring, while expression of the circadian clock genes Cry1 and Per1 were lower in HF/HF ovaries.

Conclusion(s):

Maternal obesity during pregnancy has long-term deleterious consequences on follicular growth and development in the adult offspring ovaries, which may impact their reproductive potential.

Read the full text at: http://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(14)00561-5/fulltext