There has been a marked increase in the number of babies born by elective CS (Caesarean section). Following CS, the lack of normal stimuli that occur at birth alters the thermogeneic response, but any effects on hepatic metabolism have not been identified. In the present study, we compared the effect of delivery on hepatic metabolism in piglets, born either by CS or VD (vaginal delivery) and fed by TPN (total parenteral nutrition), by measuring lipid metabolism and enzyme activity coupled with metabolomic and genomic approaches. Hepatic lipid in the CS piglets at 7 days post-partum was in excess of 5 mg/g of liver consistent with hepatic steatosis, whereas in the VD piglets the amount of lipid was markedly lower (3 mg/g of liver) and below the threshold for a diagnosis of steatosis. Metabolomic analysis indicated that CS resulted in higher hepatic glycerol and lower glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase activity, suggesting that CS causes a decrease in hepatic gluconeogenesis from glycerol. CS also resulted in altered cholesterol handling and gene expression, despite the same dietary intake for 7 days post-partum. Furthermore, the CS piglets had a lower expression of interferon-responsive genes, but a higher expression of markers of immature hepatocytes. In conclusion, the results suggest that VD promotes normal liver maturation and hepatic metabolism, thereby reducing the accumulation of hepatic lipid.
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Research Article|
October 02 2009
Delivery by Caesarean section, rather than vaginal delivery, promotes hepatic steatosis in piglets
Matthew J. Hyde;
Matthew J. Hyde
*Section of Molecular Medicine, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
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Julian L. Griffin;
Julian L. Griffin
†Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, U.K.
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Emilio Herrera;
Emilio Herrera
‡Facultades de Farmacia y Medicina, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid E-28668, Spain
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Christopher D. Byrne;
Christopher D. Byrne
§Endocrinology and Metabolism Unit, Institute for Developmental Sciences, University of Southampton and Southampton University Hospitals Trust, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, U.K.
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Lynne Clarke;
Lynne Clarke
∥Section of Comparative Medicine, Imperial College London, Wye Campus, Wye TN25 5AH, U.K.
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Paul R. Kemp
*Section of Molecular Medicine, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
Correspondence: Dr Paul R. Kemp (email [email protected]).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
March 20 2009
Revision Received:
May 14 2009
Accepted:
May 15 2009
Accepted Manuscript online:
May 15 2009
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2010 Biochemical Society
2010
Clin Sci (Lond) (2010) 118 (1): 47–59.
Article history
Received:
March 20 2009
Revision Received:
May 14 2009
Accepted:
May 15 2009
Accepted Manuscript online:
May 15 2009
Citation
Matthew J. Hyde, Julian L. Griffin, Emilio Herrera, Christopher D. Byrne, Lynne Clarke, Paul R. Kemp; Delivery by Caesarean section, rather than vaginal delivery, promotes hepatic steatosis in piglets. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 January 2010; 118 (1): 47–59. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20090169
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