Abstract This study investigated whether increased food intake after 15 days of low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) and its normalization in the later period of development change the content of key proteins related to leptin or adiponectin signaling in the hypothalamus. Male rats were divided into five groups: Control groups received a control diet (17% protein, 63% carbohydrate) for 15 (C15) or 45 (C45) days; LPHC groups received an LPHC diet (6% protein, 74% carbohydrate) for 15 (LPHC15) or 45 (LPHC45) days; and Reverse group (R): received LPHC diet for 15 days followed by control diet for another 30 days. The LPHC15 group showed increased adiposity index, leptin level, and adiponectin level, as well as decreased the leptin receptor (ObRb) and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) content in the hypothalamus compared with the C15 group. LPHC diet for 45 days or diet reversion (R group) rescued these alterations, except the adiponectin level in LPHC45 rats, which was higher. In summary, LPHC diet reduced hypothalamic leptin action by diminishing ObRb and POMC levels, leading to hyperphagia and adiposity body. Medium-term administration of LPHC diet or reverting to control diet restored the levels of these proteins, thereby improving body lipid mass rearrangement in adulthood.

As vias da fosfatidilinositol-3-cinase e da proteína cinase ativada por mitógeno medeiam crescimento, proliferação, sobrevivência e morte das células β. Investigamos se a restrição proteica durante a prenhez altera a morfometria da ilhota ou a expressão e a fosforilação de diversas proteínas envolvidas nas vias da fosfatidilinositol-3-cinase e da proteína cinase ativada por mitógeno. Como controles, ratas adultas não prenhes e prenhes foram alimentadas com uma dieta norpoproteica (17%). As ratas não prenhes e prenhes dos grupos experimentais foram alimentadas com dieta hipoproteica (6%) por 15 dias. A dieta hipoproteica durante a prenhez aumentou as concentrações séricas de prolactina, reduziu as concentrações séricas de corticosterona e a expressão da proteína cinase B/AKT1 (AKT1) e da proteína p70 ribossomal S6 cinase (p70S6K), bem como a área das ilhotas, mas não alterou o conteúdo de insulina nas ilhotas pancreáticas. A prenhez aumentou a expressão da proteína homóloga ao colágeno com domínio SH2 (SHC) e a proteína cinase regulada por sinal extracelular 1/2 (ERK1/2), independente da dieta consumida. A fosforilação da ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) foi similar em ilhotas de ratas prenhes e não prenhes alimentadas com dieta hipoproteica, e foi maior em ilhotas de ratas prenhes do que não prenhes alimentadas com dieta normoproteica. Portanto, um curto período de dieta hipoproteica durante a prenhez foi suficiente para reduzir o conteúdo de proteínas da via da fosfatidilinositol-3-cinase e afetar a morfometria da ilhota.

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways mediate β cell growth, proliferation, survival and death. We investigated whether protein restriction during pregnancy alters islet morphometry or the expression and phosphorylation of several proteins involved in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. As controls, adult pregnant and non-pregnant rats were fed a normal-protein diet (17%). Pregnant and non-pregnant rats in the experimental groups were fed a low-protein diet (6%) for 15 days. Low protein diet during pregnancy increased serum prolactin level, reduced serum corticosterone concentration and the expression of both protein kinase B/AKT1 (AKT1) and p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K), as well as the islets area, but did not alter the insulin content of pancreatic islets. Pregnancy increased the expression of the Src homology/collagen (SHC) protein and the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) independent of diet. ERK1/2 phosphorylation (pERK1/2) was similar in islets from pregnant and non-pregnant rats fed a low-protein diet, and was higher in islets from pregnant rats than in islets from non-pregnant rats fed a normal-protein diet. Thus, a short-term, low-protein diet during pregnancy was sufficient to reduce the levels of proteins in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway and affect islet morphometry.

OBJETIVO: Investigar o efeito da recuperação nutricional com farelo de arroz sobre o balanço energético e níveis de leptina e insulina. MÉTODOS: Ratos Wistar recém-desmamados foram alimentados com 17% (Controle - C) ou 0,5% (Aproteico - A) de proteína (caseína) durante 12 dias. Em seguida, ratos permaneceram com dieta controle (C) ou foram recuperados com controle (Recuperados Controle - RC) ou controle mais 5% de farelo de arroz (Recuperados com Farelo de Arroz - RFA) durante 21 dias. RESULTADOS: Apesar de a ingestão alimentar ter sido maior em A, a gordura na carcaça foi reduzida, sendo associada com menor nível de leptina. Os grupos RFA e RC tiveram redução no peso da carcaça, no gasto e ingestão de energia. O gasto energético foi correlacionado com a ingestão de alimentos e o peso da carcaça fresco. Foi observada correlação negativa entre HOMA-IR com gasto energético e com ingestão de energia. CONCLUSÃO: A recuperação nutricional com farelo de arroz não modificou o balanço energético, nem os níveis de leptina e insulina.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of nutritional recovery with rice bran on energy balance, leptin and insulin levels. METHODS: Weaned Wistar rats were fed on a 17% (Control - C) or 0.5% (Aproteic - A) protein diet for 12d. After this, rats were kept on a C diet (C) or recovered with control (Recovered Control - RC) or control plus recovered rice bran diet (Recovered Rice Bran - RRB). RESULTS: Despite the increased food intake, group A exhibited lower carcass fat associated to low serum leptin. RRB and RC groups showed lower carcass weight and energy intake and expenditure. Energy expenditure was positively associated with food intake and carcass weight. Negative correlations between HOMA-IR and energy expenditure and energy intake were observed. CONCLUSION: Nutritional recovery with rice bran did not modify energy balance, leptin and insulin levels.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotics on the recovery of the bowel atrophy induced by malnutrition in rats. METHODS: Twenty-and-six Wistar rats (200-250g) were fed with either a normoproteic (sham group, n=6) or a free-protein diet (n=20) during 12 days. Twelve malnourished rats were randomized to recover during 15 days with either a hydrolyzed diet (control group, n=6) or the same diet enriched with probiotics (Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus helveticus; probiotic group, n=6). RESULTS: Probiotic group showed similar gain of body, liver and bowel weight than controls. At the jejunum, both the villus height (383±49 vs. 321±46mm; p=0.04) and crypt depth (157±31 vs. 125±10mm; p=0.04) were greater in probiotic group than in controls. The crypt depth at the cecum (214±22 vs. 169±43 mm; p=0.05) and the wall width at both the cecum (410±18 vs. 340±61 mm; p=0.02) and sigmoid (479±130 vs. 330±62 mm; p=0.03) were higher in probiotic than in control group. CONCLUSION: Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus helveticus enhance the recovery of gut atrophy induced by malnutrition. Probiotics can be useful as oral adjuvants during the recovery of malnutrition.