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Maternal protein restriction in pregnancy and/or lactation affects seminiferous tubule organization in male rat offspring

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 June 2012

G. L. Rodríguez-González ,
R. M. Vigueras-Villaseñor ,
S. Millán ,
N. Moran ,
R. Trejo ,
P. W. Nathanielsz ,
F. Larrea  and
E. Zambrano
G. L. Rodríguez-González
Affiliation:
Department of Reproductive Biology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
R. M. Vigueras-Villaseñor
Affiliation:
Department of Experimental Medicine, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Mexico City, Mexico
S. Millán
Affiliation:
Department of Reproductive Biology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
N. Moran
Affiliation:
Department of Reproductive Biology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
R. Trejo
Affiliation:
Research Coordination, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
P. W. Nathanielsz
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics, Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
F. Larrea
Affiliation:
Department of Reproductive Biology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
E. Zambrano*
Affiliation:
Department of Reproductive Biology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
*
*Address for correspondence: E. Zambrano, Department of Reproductive Biology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Vasco de Quiroga 15, Sección XVI, Tlalpan 14000, México, DF México. (Email zamgon@unam.mx)
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Abstract

Maternal protein restriction (MPR) during pregnancy impaired the reproduction of male offspring. We investigated, during the first wave of spermatogenesis, whether MPR exerts deleterious effects on germ cell proliferation and differentiation, as well as androgen receptor (AR) protein expression, which was used as a marker for Sertoli cell (SC) maturation. At the beginning of pregnancy (day 0), dams were fed a control diet (C: 20% casein) or a restricted isocaloric diet (R: 10% casein). After birth, four groups were established: CC, RR, CR and RC (first letter diet during pregnancy and second during lactation). Male offspring were studied at postnatal days 14, 21 and 36. At birth, pup body weight was unchanged. Body weight and testis weight were reduced in RR and CR groups at all ages evaluated. MPR delayed the germinal epithelium development at all ages evaluated. On performing Western blot and immunohistochemistry, AR expression was found to be lower in the three restricted groups. The results suggest that MPR during pregnancy and/or lactation delays SC maturation and germ cell differentiation, and affects intratubular organization. These changes might be responsible for the lower fertility rate at older ages.

Keywords

androgen receptorfertilityprotein restrictionSertoli cellspermatogenesis
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 3 , Issue 5 , October 2012 , pp. 321 - 326
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2012

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