Expression of nutrients transporters and digestive enzymes in rats born to mothers submitted to protein restriction during pregnancy

Abstract

It has been demonstrated in animals and humans, that inadequate nutrition during critical periods of fetal maturation can cause disease in adult life the so-called "fetal programming". According to this hypothesis, the risk of developing certain diseases is a function not only the genetic background or lifestyle habits of adults, but also the role of environmental factors during critical periods. There are many studies on the effects of fetal programming of metabolism and its correlation with conditions such as diabetes and obesity. But the impacts of fetal programming on the digestive physiology are still little studied, although changes in ingestion, digestion and absorption of food can contribute to these pathologies. Therefore, the objective of this research is to evaluate the activity of digestive enzymes, morphology and cell proliferation intestinal epithelium, gene expression and localization of nutrient transporters and digestive enzymes in different segments of the small intestine of rats subjected to intrauterine protein restriction. Male rats are used in weaning (21 days old) and in age adult (16 weeks of age). The experimental groups will consist of: GDHP - Rats weaned, born to mothers fed a low protein diet (HP = 6%); GDNP - Rats weaned, born to mothers fed a normal protein diet (NP = 17%), GAHP - Adult rats, born to mothers fed a low protein diet (HP = 6%), GANP - Adult rats born to mothers fed a normal protein diet (NP = 17%). The comparison between control and experimental animals in each age will be made by T test at the 5% level of significance. (AU)