Maternal obesity (MO) programs morphological changes in aged rat offspring small intestine in a sex dependent manner: Effects of maternal resveratrol supplementation.

Maternal obesity (MO) leads to offspring metabolic problems. The mechanisms involved are multifactorial. The small intestine plays an important role in the absorption of nutrients and is modified as we age. Few studies have explored MO programming effects on offspring (F1) small intestine morphology. The aim of this study was to investigate MO effects on old adult F1 intestinal morphology, and whether any F1 intestinal changes due to MO were modified by maternal resveratrol supplementation. From weaning throughout pregnancy and lactation, female Wistar rats (F0) ate standard chow (controls, C: 5%-fat) or high-fat diet (MO: 25%-fat). One month before mating at postnatal day (PND) 120 through lactation half of each group received 20 mg/kg/day of resveratrol orally (Cres or MOres). After weaning F1 were fed with chow diet until the end of the study at PND 650. Body weight, percent of fat, glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride serum concentrations were determined. F1 small intestinal samples were collected for histological analysis. Male F1 body weight was higher in MO and MOres compared with C and Cres. Female F1 body weight and percent of fat was higher in MO than C and MOres. Triglyceride concentrations were higher in MO and MOres male F1 compared with C and Cres. There were no differences among groups in female triglyceride concentrations. Male F1 duodenal villus height was smaller in MO compared with MOres. Female F1 duodenal and jejunal crypt depth was smaller in MO compared with C and was greater compared with MOres. Female F1 villus height in jejunum was greater in MO compared with MOres. In conclusion, exposure to the developmental challenge of MO changed the aged F1 intestinal morphological and metabolic profiles. Maternal resveratrol supplementation ameliorated these effects in an F1 sex dependent manner.