Maternal Diet Enriched with Alpha Linolenic or Saturated Fatty Acids Differentially Regulates Gene Expression in Mice Offspring's liver.

Lipid metabolic disarray in young and adult mice offspring's liver is induced by saturated fatty acids (SFA) but prevented by alpha linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3 3) in the maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation. The aim of the present study was to analyse the impact of maternal dietary ALA on the liver gene expression in the new-born offspring in comparison to a SFA diet. Methods: C57Bl6/J dams were fed with diets normal in calories but rich in ALA or SFA before mating and during pregnancy. Pups were sacrificed at birth and liver parameters were assessed. Gene expression was characterized by microarray analysis and validated by real time qPCR. Results: ALA compared to SFA in maternal diets during pregnancy, increased polyunsaturated fatty acids while differentially modified fatty acid desaturase activities in offspring liver. Overall, 474 and 662 genes from born pups liver, were differentially regulated by ALA and SFA compared to control diet (p<0.05; Fold change 2), respectively. Notably, Per3 was up-regulated by ALA whereas down-regulated by SFA, compared to control diet. Conclusions: ALA and SFA enriched diets differentially affect gene expression pattern in the offsprings liver. ALA in particular, upregulates genes associated to low adiposity.

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Leikin-Frenkel A, Shomonov-Wagner L, Juknat A, Pasmanik-Chor M