Maternal Metformin Intervention during Obese Glucose-Intolerant Pregnancy Affects Adiposity in Young Adult Mouse Offspring in a Sex-Specific Manner.

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.

• Authors: Josca M Schoonejans, Heather L Blackmore, Thomas J Ashmore, Catherine E Aiken, Denise S Fernandez-Twinn, Susan E Ozanne
• Journal: International journal of molecular sciences (Int J Mol Sci) Vol. 22 Issue 15 (Jul 28 2021) ISSN: 1422-0067 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 34360870 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Metformin

Topics

• Adiposity
• Animals
• Animals, Newborn (metabolism)
• Diabetes, Gestational (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Female
• Male
• Metformin (pharmacology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Obesity, Maternal (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Pregnancy
• Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects (metabolism, pathology)
• Sex Factors