Issn Print: 0883-9212
Publication Date: 1998/09/01
MATERNAL DIET EFFECT ON FETAL AND PUBERTAL CORONARY ARTERY AND AORTIC FATTY STREAK FORMATION. 4: 00 PM
Joseph F. Norman; Robert F. LeVeen
Excerpt
Objective: Documentation of the development of atherosclerosis (ATH) during early infancy and childhood may suggest that lesions arise from fetal vascular adaptations to an adverse environment in utero. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a maternal hyperlipidemic diet (HLD) on early ATH development. Methods: Pregnant sows were divided into 2 groups: one group received a HLD and the other received a standard low fat diet (LFD). 15 offspring from each of the gestational diet groups were included in this study. 5 from each group served as the neonatal study population. 5 piglets from the HLD group continued to receive a HLD while 5 received a LFD for 5 months. Likewise, 5 piglets from the LFD group continued to receive a LFD while 5 received a HLD for 5 months. The neonatal and pubertal swine were evaluated for ATH of the coronary arteries (CA) and aortas by histological assessment and sudanophilic staining respectively. Results: There was no evidence of early ATH (ie. foam cells) in the CA, and no significant differences in lipid deposition (p> 0.05) in the aortas of neonates regardless of maternal gestational diet. No significant differences in serum cholesterol levels (p> 0.05) were noted in either neonate group. In 5 month-old swine on a LFD post-natally, there were no differences (p> 0.05) in abdominal and thoracic aorta lipid deposition, and no coronary ATH was noted regardless of the maternal diet. A significant difference (p< 0.05) in abdominal and thoracic aorta lipid deposition was noted in the 5 month-old swine on a HLD versus LFD post-natally. No coronary ATH were noted in the 5 month-old swine on a HLD whose mothers were on a HLD during gestational. However, coronary ATH was noted in the 5 month-old swine on a HLD post-natally whose mothers were on a LFD during gestation. Significant differences (p< 0.05) were noted in serum cholesterol levels of the 5 month-old swine on a post-natal HLD versus a standard LFD. Conclusion: Maternal HLD during gestation did not have a significant effect in and of itself in determining ATH development at birth or at puberty. However, maternal LFD was associated with early coronary ATH formation in those swine on a HLD post-natally. The post-natal HLD was a critical factor in lipid deposition in the aorta.
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