Maternal Metformin Intervention during Obese Glucose-Intolerant Pregnancy Affects Adiposity in Young Adult Mouse Offspring in a Sex-Specific Manner.
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Peer-reviewed
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Authors
Ashmore, Thomas J
Aiken, Catherine E
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.Description
Keywords
Metformin, Sex differences, Gestational Diabetes, White Adipose Tissue, Maternal Obesity, Foetal Programming
Journal Title
International journal of molecular sciences
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Journal ISSN
1422-0067
Volume Title
22
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Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00014/4)
British Heart Foundation (FS/16/53/32729, RG/17/12/33167, PG/13/46/30329)
British Heart Foundation (FS/16/53/32729, RG/17/12/33167, PG/13/46/30329)