A Maternal Diet Enriched with Longer Chain Omega‐ 3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Increased Lipogenesis and Fetal Outcome in C57bl/6 Mice
Authors: Akerele Olatunji Anthony , Cheema Sukhinder Kaur 
Published: November 2023

Nutritional strategy employed during pregnancy has a significant impact on pregnancy progression and outcome. However, there is paucity of evidence on the effect of omega (n)‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intake on maternal metabolic regulation and fetal outcome at different stages of pregnancy. We investigated the effects of diets varying in both the quantity and the quality of fat on maternal metabolic profile during pregnancy and its effect on the fetal number of C57BL/6 mice. Female mice (8 weeks) were fed diets varying in the quantity of fat (5% vs. 11%) for one week prior to mating and throughout pregnancy. The 5% diet contained fish oil as a source of n‐3 PUFA, while the 11% diet contained soybean oil. The females were checked for vaginal plug to confirm pregnancy. Maternal blood and livers were collected at early‐ (day 6.5), mid‐ (day 12.5) and late‐pregnancy (day 18.5). Lipids were extracted from red blood cells (RBC) and liver, and fatty acid composition was determined using gas chromatography. Plasma and liver triacylglycerol (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were measured using kits. Hepatic mRNA expression of lipogenic enzymes (acetyl‐CoA carboxylase; ACC1 and fatty acid synthase; FAS) was measured using qPCR. Macrophage cholesterol efflux assay was performed using J774 cells treated with 2% maternal plasma. Plasma progesterone and estradiol were determined using Architect System. Fetal weight, implantation sites and the number of fetuses sustained throughout pregnancy were recorded. Two way analysis of variance was used to determine the main effects of diet and time, and Bonferrroni pairwise comparison was used to determine statistical difference when an interaction was observed; P<0.05 was considered significant. The 5% diet group had higher amount of RBC alpha‐linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) at each stage of pregnancy, compared to the 11% group (P<0.0001). Interestingly, ALA was not detected at day 12.5 and 18.5 in the 11% group. The 5% group showed higher plasma TG (P<0.001) and lower TC (P<0.05), compared to the 11% group at mid and late pregnancy. Hepatic TC levels were higher in the 5% group, compared to the 11% group (P<0.05) at mid and late pregnancy. The plasma from the 5% group at mid and late pregnancy increased cholesterol efflux, compared to the 11% group (P<0.005). The mRNA expression of ACC1 and FAS were higher in the 5% group, compared to the 11% group (P<0.05) at mid and late pregnancy. Diet had an independent effect on maternal sex‐hormones, revealing significantly higher levels of progesterone and estradiol in the 5% group (P<0.005), compared to the 11% group. The number of fetuses sustained till day 18.5 was higher in the 5% group (average of 8 fetuses), compared to the 11% group (average of 5.1 fetuses) (P<0.05). In conclusion, a low fat diet causes an increase in de‐novo lipid synthesis, likely to meet the needs of the developing fetus. The 11% group showed rapid conversion of ALA to DHA at mid and late gestation. Higher levels of progesterone and estradiol in the 5% group may be responsible for sustaining a higher fetal number. Our findings highlight the importance of the quantity and the quality of fat during pregnancy on fetal outcome.

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Funded by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)