A Low Maternal Protein Diet During Pregnancy and Lactation Induce Liver Offspring Dysfunction, in the Rat

Pregnancy and fetal development are periods of rapid growth and cell differentiation when mother and offspring are vulnerable to changes. Adverse events during development can be linked to an increased risk in developing metabolic diseases. The aim of this work is to study the effect of protein malnutrition during gestation and lactation on liver morphology and physiology. Pregnant Wistar rats of three months of age who were fed a diet containing 8% of proteins, malnourished group (M) or 20% control group (C). The male offspring of mothers M, or male offspring from mothers C were euthanized. Blood was drawn and liver were dissected. Body weights and liver were lower in the M group. Liver dysfunction was observed by increased serum transaminase, cholesterol and triglycerides in liver. At weaning glucose in M rats was significantly lower relative to controls. Serum proteins, albumin and triglycerides, significantly decreased compared to the control. Both glycogen as proteins liver content decreased in the group M with respect to C. We observed inflammation by increasing TNF-α and IL-6. Histology showed a significant liver injury, cellular swelling was observed, hydropic degeneration, characterized by pale cytoplasm as a result of an increased volume of water stored in the cells. Conclusion: The lack of protein during development compromises the integrity of the structural and functional liver, manifested in adulthood.