Researchers have found that maternal obesity causes long-term changes in the brain via the microRNA miR-505-5p, leading offspring to prefer high-fat diets and increasing their risk of obesity. This effect can be mitigated by maternal exercise during pregnancy, according to a new study inA study reveals that maternal obesity in mice increases microRNA levels in the hypothalamus in offspring, leading to overeating.
In animal models, offspring exposed to overnutrition during key periods of development eat more, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms that lead to these changes in eating behavior.In this study, researchers found that mice born from obese mothers had higher levels of the microRNA miR-505-5p in their hypothalamus—from as early as the fetal stage into adulthood. The researchers found that the mice ate more and showed a preference for high-fat foods.
Several of the genes that miR-505-5p regulates have been associated with high body mass index in human genetic studies. The study is one of the first to demonstrate the molecular mechanism linking nutritional exposureThe authors add, “Our results show that obesity during pregnancy causes changes to the baby’s brain that makes them eat more high-fat food in adulthood and more likely to develop obesity.
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