Programmed regulation of rat offspring adipogenic transcription factor (PPARγ) by maternal nutrition

We determined the protein expression of adipogenic transcription factor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) and its co-repressor and co-activator complexes in adipose tissue from the obese offspring of under- and over-nourished dams. Female rats were fed either a high-fat (60% kcal) or control (10% kcal) diet before mating, and throughout pregnancy and lactation (Mat-OB). Additional dams were 50% food-restricted from pregnancy day 10 to term [intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR)]. Adipose tissue protein expression was analyzed in newborn and adult male offspring. Normal birth weight Mat-OB and low birth weight IUGR newborns had upregulated PPAR gamma with variable changes in co-repressors and co-activators. As obese adults, Mat-OB and IUGR offspring had increased PPAR gamma with decreased co-repressor and increased co-activator expression. Nutritionally programmed increased PPAR gamma expression is associated with altered expression of its co-regulators in the newborn and adult offspring. Functional studies of PPAR gamma co-regulators are necessary to establish their role in PPAR gamma-mediated programmed obesity.