247 - Maternal obesity provokes hepatic lipidic modulations in offspring in a sex-dependent manner (ID 160)
Abstract
Background and Aims
With the increasing prevalence of obesity in women in reproductive age, there is an urgent need to further understand the metabolic impact on the fetus. We aim to characterize the sexual dimorphism in offspring in response to maternal obesity with a special focus on hepatic lipid species and the pathophysiological outcomes. We aim to better understand the mechanisms whereby maternal obesity affects the adiposity and lipid composition differently in female (F) and male (M) offspring.
Methods
Sex-related susceptibility to liver diseases has been demonstrated but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, we combined state-of-the-art in vivo techniques (magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy) together with hepatic lipidomic ex vivo analysis in control diet (CD) fed F and M offspring born from either CD (C/C) or high fat diet (HF/C) mothers.
Results
We demonstrated that hepatic lipidome is highly modulated in HF/C offspring as compared to C/C in a sex dependent manner. MRI showed less SAT and more VAT accumulation in M HF/C associated with impaired insulin sensitivity compared to M C/C. In vivo MRS in the liver revealed an increase fraction of the lipid mass (fLM) in both sexes and a change of the hepatic lipid profile in a sex dependent manner in HF/C groups compared to C/C. Ex vivo lipidomic analysis of the liver revealed important modifications in the triglyceride and the phospholipid species composition in M and F HF/C compared to C/C.
Conclusions
Maternal obesity provokes profound hepatic metabolic changes in a sex dependent manner that may contribute to the associated metabolic disorders.
