Sex-specific alterations in hepatic cholesterol metabolism in low birth weight adult guinea pigs

CONCLUSIONS: UPI environment is associated with a later life programed hepatic cholesterol accumulation via impaired cholesterol elimination in a sex-specific manner. These programmed alterations could underlie later life cholesterol-induced hepatic lipotoxicity in LBW male offspring.IMPACT: Low birth weight (LBW) is a risk factor for increased hepatic cholesterol. Uteroplacental insufficiency (UPI) resulting in LBW increased hepatic cholesterol content, altered hepatic expression of cholesterol metabolism-related genes in young adult guinea pigs. UPI-induced LBW was also associated with markers of a compromised hepatic cholesterol elimination process and failing antioxidant system in young adult guinea pigs. These changes, at the current age studied, were sex-specific, only being observed in LBW males and not in LBW females. These programmed alterations could lead to further hepatic damage and greater predisposition to liver diseases in UPI-induced LBW male offspring as they age.PMID:34230622 | DOI:10.1038/s41390-021-01491-w

Source: Pediatric Research - July 7, 2021 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Ousseynou Sarr Katherine E Mathers Christina Vanderboor Kristina Wiggers Aditya Devgan Daniel B Hardy Lin Zhao Timothy R H Regnault Source Type: research