A high-fat high-energy diet influences hepatic CYP3A expression and activity in low-birth-weight developing female rats

Background:The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a high-fat,high-energy(HFHE)diet on the hepatic expression of CYP3A in low-birthweight developing female rats.Methods:Pregnant rats were divided into nourished and undernourished groups.The offspring of the nourished rats were defined as the normal-birth-weight(NBW)group,and those of undernourished rats were defined as the low-birth-weight(LBW)group.According to their birth weights and diets,the rats were subdivided into the following four groups:NBW-normal diet(NN)group;NBW-HFHE(NH)group;LBW-normal diet(LN)group;and LBW-HFHE(LH)group.Liver samples were isolated on days 3,7,14,21,28,56 and 84 after birth.Results:The CYP3A1 mRNA levels in the LH group on days 3,56 and 84 were significantly higher than those of the NN group(P<0.05).CYP3A1 expression was significantly higher in the LH group than that in the NH group on days 21,28 and 84(P<0.05).CYP3A1 mRNA expression was higher in the LH group than that in the LN group on days 3 and 21(P<0.05).No zonal CYP3A1 expression pattern was observed in the LH developmental group.The LH group had significantly higher mean activity than the LN group on days 7,14,28 and 56.Conclusion:Our results indicated that an HFHE diet can result in alterations of CYP3A expression in a developmental LBW rat model.