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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #142157
Title: NONHEREDITY ENHANCEMENT OF PROGENY GROWTH

Author
item KHAN, AMIR - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
item FIOROTTO, MARTA - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
item HILL, LEIGH-ANNE - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
item MALONE, P - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
item CUMMINGS, KATHLEEN - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
item PARGHI, DEENA - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
item SCHWARTZ, ROBERT - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
item SMITH, ROY - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
item DRAGHIA-AKLI, RUXANDRA - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED

Submitted to: Endocrinology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/29/2002
Publication Date: 9/1/2002
Citation: Khan, A.S., Fiorotto, M.L., Hill, L.A., Malone, P.B., Cummings, K.K., Parghi, D., Schwartz, R.J., Smith, R.G., Draghia-Akli, R. Nonhereditary enhancement of progeny growth. 2002. v. 143. p. 3561-3567.

Interpretive Summary: The pituitary gland in the brain produces a variety of hormones that are important for normal health. These include growth hormone, which regulates postnatal growth, and prolactin, which is required for lactation. The production of growth hormone is controlled by a number of other hormones including one called growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). Variations in the amounts of these hormones produced can alter how fast an individual grows and how much of that growth is composed of lean versus fat tissue. We wished to determine if changes in the amount of GHRH that a mother produces during pregnancy, could alter the growth of her offspring. To accomplish this we gave pregnant rat dams the GHRH gene in such a way that they were able to produce it at high levels throughout pregnancy. The offspring were larger by two weeks of age, and their pituitary glands were able to produce more growth hormone and prolactin into adulthood. These findings represent a novel, nonhereditary mechanism whereby factors present in the mother during pregnancy can permanently alter the growth of her children. This is important for the identification of causes of altered growth, and potentially could be adapted for agricultural use as a way to reduce the cost of producing meat and dairy products.

Technical Abstract: The im electroporated injection of a protease-resistant GH-releasing hormone cDNA into rat dams at 16 d gestation resulted in enhanced long-term growth of the F(1) offspring. The offspring were significantly heavier by 2 wk of age, and the difference was sustained to 10 wk of age. Consistent with their augmented growth, the plasma IGF-I concentration of the F(1) progeny was increased significantly. The pituitary gland of the offspring was significantly heavier and contained an increased number of somatotrophs and PRL-secreting cells, which is indicative of modification of cell lineage differentiation. These unique findings demonstrate that enhanced GH-releasing hormone expression in pregnant dams can result in intergenerational growth promotion by altering development of the pituitary gland in the offspring.