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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Cell Wall Biology and Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #352695
Research Project: Investigating Microbial, Digestive, and Animal Factors to Increase Dairy Cow Performance and Nutrient Use Efficiency

Location: Cell Wall Biology and Utilization Research

Title: Effect of high-fat diet feeding and associated transcriptome changes in the peak lactation mammary gland in C57BL/6 dams

Author
item CHENG, ANDRIENNE - University Of Wisconsin
item HERNANDEZ, LAURA - University Of Wisconsin
item Li, Wenli

Submitted to: Physiological Genomics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2018
Publication Date: 12/1/2018
Citation: Cheng, A., Hernandez, L., Li, W. 2018. Effect of high-fat diet feeding and associated transcriptome changes in the peak lactation mammary gland in C57BL/6 dams. Physiological Genomics. 50(12):1059-1070. https://doi.org/10.1152/physiolgenomics.00052.2018.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1152/physiolgenomics.00052.2018

Interpretive Summary: Breastfeeding rates in the United States are lower than ideal, with only 14% exclusively breastfeeding by 6 months. One hypothesis behind lower breastfeeding rates is the increase in high-fat diet (HFD), and lowered breast milk quality associated with obesity. The mechanism by which obesity causes impaired lactation outcomes is unknown. In order to fully understand the changes in breastmilk caused by obesity, it is crucial to understand the molecular changes in the mammary gland. Using a mouse obesity model, we investigated the mammary gland transcriptome changes in mice fed a high-fat diet in comparison to these fed a low-fat diet. Significant gene expression changes were observed in mice fed a HFD diet. These genes were enriched in molecular mechanisms related to mammary gland development and lipid metabolism. Our study provided the insights underlying the molecular changes in mammary gland introduced by a HFD.

Technical Abstract: Breastfeeding rates in the United States are lower than ideal, with only 14% exclusively breastfeeding by 6 months. One hypothesis behind lower breastfeeding rates is the increase in obesity prevalence. The mechanism by which obesity causes impaired lactation outcomes is unknown. In order to fully understand the changes in breastmilk caused by obesity, it is crucial to understand the molecular changes in the mammary gland. Using a mouse strain C57BL6, which is an obesity model on a high-fat diet (HFD), we focused on the mid-lactation period, and investigated the mammary gland transcriptome changes in mice fed a high-fat diet in comparison to these fed a low-fat diet. Notably, genes involved in macronutrient metabolism and inflammation were drastically altered under a HFD. Additionally, our results indicate that a HFD changes milk composition as well as potentially increasing the exposure of pro-inflammatory cytokines to the developing infant, which could have lifelong repercussions on health.