Can perinatal undernutrition alter mitochondrial function and metabolism in the adult liver?

During the critical period of development, the body is likely to be influenced by external factors, such as undernutrition, and may induce biochemical changes in tissues. Thus our aim was evaluate the effects of the perinatal undernutrition in liver mitochondrial function and metabolism. We evaluate mitochondrial respiratory rates parameters (phosphorylation (State 3), resting (State 4) and uncoupled state), ATP synthesis, mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial swelling, metabolic enzymes (phosphofructokinase, glucose 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase and β‐hydroxyacyl‐CoA dehydrogenase) and oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, SOD, catalase and glutathione S‐transferase). Were used male Wistar rats, which were submitted to undernutrition during gestation and lactation with a diet containing 8% and 17% casein. After lactation (21 days), pups began receiving Labina. At 100 days of age, the rats were sacrificed and the liver removed for analysis. Our results showed that perinatal undernutrition induce changes in mitochondrial bioenergetics, metabolism and oxidative stress parameters in adult liver. These results suggest that perinatal undernutrition favoring a significant mitochondrial modulation, which might be associated with disease in adulthood. Supported by: FACEPE