Effects of maternal high-fat diet and sedentary lifestyle on susceptibility of adult offspring to ozone exposure in rats

• Published in: Inhalation toxicology Vol. 29; no. 6; pp. 239 - 254
• Main Authors: Gordon, C. J., Phillips, P. M., Johnstone, A. F. M., Schmid, J., Schladweiler, M. C., Ledbetter, A., Snow, S. J., Kodavanti, U. P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 12.05.2017
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - toxicity; Air pollution; Animals; Blood Glucose - drug effects; body composition; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - chemistry; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - cytology; Cell Count; Diet, High-Fat; Female; glucose tolerance; Male; maternal diet; Obesity; Ozone - toxicity; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Pulmonary Ventilation - drug effects; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Sedentary Lifestyle; Sex Characteristics; maternal diet; Air pollution; body composition; glucose tolerance; obesity
• ISSN: 0895-8378; 1091-7691
• DOI: 10.1080/08958378.2017.1342719

Epidemiological and experimental data suggest that obesity exacerbates the health effects of air pollutants such as ozone (O 3 ). Maternal inactivity and calorically rich diets lead to offspring that show signs of obesity. Exacerbated O 3 susceptibility of offspring could thus be manifested by maternal obesity. Thirty-day-old female Long-Evans rats were fed a control (CD) or high-fat (HF) (60% calories) diet for 6 wks and then bred. GD1 rats were then housed with a running wheel (RW) or without a wheel (SED) until parturition, creating four groups of offspring: CD-SED, CD-RW, HF-SED and HF-RW. HF diet was terminated at PND 35 and all offspring were placed on CD. Body weight and %fat of dams were greatest in order; HF-SED > HF-RW > CD-SED > CD-RW. Adult offspring were exposed to O 3 for two consecutive days (0.8 ppm, 4 h/day). Glucose tolerance tests (GTT), ventilatory parameters (plethysmography), and bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF) cell counts and protein biomarkers were performed to assess response to O 3 . Exercise and diet altered body weight and %fat of young offspring. GTT, ventilation and BALF cell counts were exacerbated by O 3 with responses markedly exacerbated in males. HF diet and O 3 led to significant exacerbation of several BALF parameters: total cell count, neutrophils and lymphocytes were increased in male HF-SED versus CD-SED. Males were hyperglycemic after O 3 exposure and exhibited exacerbated GTT responses. Ventilatory dysfunction was also exacerbated in males. Maternal exercise had minimal effects on O 3 response. The results of this exploratory study suggest a link between maternal obesity and susceptibility to O 3 in their adult offspring in a sex-specific manner.