Ketosis resistance in the male offspring of protein-malnourished rat dams

Ozanne, S.E.; Wang, C.L.; Petry, C.J.; Smith, J.M.; Hales, C.N.

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Volume 47, Issue 12 , Pages 1450-1454, December 1998

Ketosis resistance in the male offspring of protein-malnourished rat dams☆

S.E. Ozanne
- Address reprint requests to S.E. Ozanne, PhD, Department of Clinical Biochemistry (Level 4), Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 2QR.
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, UK
C.L. Wang
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, UK
C.J. Petry
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, UK
J.M. Smith
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, UK
C.N. Hales
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, UK

Received 29 September 1997; accepted 15 June 1998.

Abstract

Plasma β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were measured in the offspring of rats that were fed either a control (20% protein) diet or low-protein (8% protein) diet during pregnancy and lactation. Low-protein offspring had significantly lower plasma β-hydroxybutyrate compared with controls in the fed state (P < .04) and after fasting for 24 hours (P < .001) and 48 hours (P < .04). There were no differences in blood glucose, acetoacetate, plasma glucagon, cholesterol, or glycerol between control and low-protein offspring. However, plasma nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) were significantly higher in low-protein offspring in the fed state (P < .05). In contrast, plasma triglycerides and insulin were significantly lower in low-protein offspring compared with controls when fed (P < .001) and after a 24-hour fast (P < .001). These results suggest that poor maternal and early postnatal nutrition can have long-term effects on ketone body metabolism in the offspring during adulthood. This apparent ketosis resistance is similar to that observed in some forms of human diabetes.

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