Faculty Collaboration Database

Mechanical-tactile stimulation (MTS) intervention in a neonatal stress model alters adult adipose tissue deposition and prevents hyperinsulinemia in male rats. Early Hum Dev 2013 Jun;89(6):387-92

Date

01/08/2013

Pubmed ID

23290636

DOI

10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2012.12.005

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84876738936 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   12 Citations

Abstract

Preterm infants are exposed to numerous stressors during hospitalization and by term corrected gestational age they have lower body weight but a greater proportion of total body as well as abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) accumulation. Greater abdominal VAT stores have a known association with metabolic syndrome. Mechanical-tactile stimulation (MTS) improves modulation of stress response in both humans and rodents. We hypothesize that MTS, administered during an established model of neonatal stress, would decrease stress-driven adiposity and prevent associated metabolic imbalances in adult rats. Neonatal stress, administered to rat pups from postnatal days 5 to P9, consisted of needle puncture and hypoxic/hyperoxic challenge during 60 min of maternal separation (STRESS; n=20). Mechanical-tactile stimulation (MTS; n=20) was administered to rat pups for 10 min during maternal separation in the stress protocol. Control animals received standard care (CTL; n=20). MRI measured adult (P120) abdominal total fat mass, subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Body weight and fasting serum adiponectin, leptin, glucose, insulin, and corticosterone were also measured. STRESS results in elevated VAT/SAT ratio compared to CTL but lower abdominal total fat mass and abdominal SAT. STRESS males experience hyperinsulinemia. Both STRESS and MTS had elevated leptin with lower adiponectin and corticosterone compared to CTL. In summary, neonatal stress promotes greater abdominal VAT accumulation and, in males, caused hyperinsulinemia and hypoadiponectinemia. Importantly, MTS normalized the VAT/SAT ratio and prevented hyperinsulinemia. We speculate that MTS ameliorates some of the negative metabolic consequences of early life perturbations due to neonatal stress exposure.

Author List

Haley S, Neff K, Gulliver K, Gough G, Slater H, Lane RH, Moyer-Mileur LJ

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adiponectin
Adipose Tissue
Adiposity
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Blood Glucose
Corticosterone
Female
Hyperinsulinism
Hyperoxia
Hypoxia
Insulin
Leptin
Male
Physical Stimulation
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Sex Factors
Stress, Physiological
Stress, Psychological
Touch