Location: Nutrition, Food Safety/Quality
Project Number: 0204-41510-001-063-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2015
End Date: Aug 31, 2020
Objective:
In a rodent model, to 1) examine the histopathology of the pancreas, liver, and adipose tissue of the 12-month offspring of mothers exposed to particulate matter generated from the combustion of petrodiesel and biodiesel fuels from gestational days 9-17; 2) determine the sex-related differences in metabolic outcomes of exposed offspring at 6 and 12 months of age; and 3) elucidate underlying mechanisms and cellular pathways responsible for metabolic dysfunction in these offspring.
Approach:
At euthanasia, aliquots of individual tissues were placed in 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) or frozen in liquid nitrogen. 1. Tissues placed in PFA were processed in paraffin and sections stained with hematoxylin/eosin or Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) and slides will be examined for histology, inflammatory cells, mucopolysaccharrides and glycogen. Subsequent sections will be processed for immunohistochemistry with antibodies to be determined after initial histological evaluation. 2. Data related to glucose, insulin, adiponectin, leptin and glucagon concentrations and will be analyzed to determine insulin sensitivity, hormonal alterations, and glucose tolerance and the effects of sex on the outcome variables. 3. Tissue protein and RNA will be extracted and analyzed via Western blots or RT-PCR for molecular markers of inflammation, glucose/insulin tolerance or sensitivity, and activation of redox-sensitive signaling pathways known to be associated with oxidative stress and/or metabolic dysfunction.
