4.6 Article

Protein Restriction in the Rat Negatively Impacts Long-chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Composition and Mammary Gland Development at the End of Gestation

Journal

ARCHIVES OF MEDICAL RESEARCH
Volume 44, Issue 6, Pages 429-436

Publisher

ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2013.08.002

Keywords

Mammary gland; Low protein; Pregnancy and LC-PUFAs

Funding

  1. CONACyT [48839]

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Background and Aims. Maternal nutrition during gestation is critical for mammary gland cell proliferation and differentiation and development of optimal delta-6 (Delta 6D) and delta-5 (Delta 5D) desaturase and elongase 2 and 5 (Elovl 2 and 5) activity for synthesis of the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), arachidonic (AA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids, important for normal fetal and neonatal brain development. We hypothesized that maternal low protein diet (LPD) impairs mammary gland preparation for lactation and PUFA synthesis. The aim of the study was to evaluate consequences of maternal LPD on mammary gland structure and development and expression of enzymes responsible for LC-PUFA production. Methods. Pregnant rats were assigned to control or protein restricted, isocaloric diet (R). At 19 days gestation, mammary gland tissue was removed for histological analysis and lipid, AA, EPA and DHA determination by gas chromatography. Gene transcription was quantified by RT-PCR and protein by Western blot. Results. In R mothers, mammary gland lobuloalveolar development was decreased and showed fat cell infiltration. Delta 6D, Delta 5D, and Elovl 5 mRNA were lower in R, whereas protein levels measured by Western blot were unchanged. This is the first report that detects mammary gland desaturase and elongase protein. Although Elovl 2 mRNA was not detectable by RT-PCR, Elovl 2 protein was not different between groups. AA and DHA were lower and EPA undetectable in the mammary gland of R mothers. Conclusions. Maternal LPD decreased late gestation mammary gland lobuloalveolar development and LC-PUFAs. Protein restriction negatively impacts maternal mammary gland development prior to lactation. (C) 2013 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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