Maternal exercise during pregnancy promotes physical activity in adult offspring

Authors: ECLARINAL, JESSE - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); ZHU, SHAOYU - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); BAKER, MARIA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); PIYARATHNA, DANTHASINGHE - Baylor College Of Medicine; COARFA, CRISTIAN - Baylor College Of Medicine; FIOROTTO, MARTA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); WATERLAND, ROBERT - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/21/2016
Publication Date: 7/1/2016
Citation: Eclarinal, J.D., Zhu, S., Baker, M.S., Piyarathna, D.B., Coarfa, C., Fiorotto, M.L., Waterland, R.A. 2016. Maternal exercise during pregnancy promotes physical activity in adult offspring. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 30(7):2541-2548.

Interpretive Summary: We all know some people who enjoy being physically active and others who are 'couch potatoes'. Clearly, genetics contributes to determining one's innate level of physical activity, but recent research shows that environmental influences during critical stages of development also play an important role. We tested whether maternal physical activity during pregnancy affects the development of the 'activity-stat' (the conceptual brain center that regulates each individual's propensity for physical activity). Genetically-identical female mice were provided access to running wheels before and during pregnancy, and their offspring were compared with those of female mice without access to running wheels. Both male and female offspring of the moms who ran during pregnancy were more physically active themselves. This was a big effect, approximately a 50% increase in spontaneous running behavior in the offspring of the exercising moms. If this effect generalizes to humans, this will suggest a simple and highly effective means to counter the current worldwide epidemic of physical inactivity and obesity.

Technical Abstract: Previous rodent studies have shown that maternal voluntary exercise during pregnancy leads to metabolic changes in adult offspring. We set out to test whether maternal voluntary exercise during pregnancy also induces persistent changes in voluntary physical activity in the offspring. Adult C57BL/6J female mice were randomly assigned to be caged with an unlocked (U) or locked (L) running wheel before and during pregnancy. Maternal running behavior was monitored during pregnancy, and body weight, body composition, food intake, energy expenditure, total cage activity, and running wheel activity were measured in the offspring at various ages. U offspring were slightly heavier at birth, but no group differences in body weight or composition were observed at later ages (when mice were caged without access to running wheels). Consistent with our hypothesis, U offspring were more physically active as adults. This effect was observed earlier in female offspring (at sexual maturation). Remarkably, at 300 d of age, U females achieved greater fat loss in response to a 3-wk voluntary exercise program. Our findings show for the first time that maternal physical activity during pregnancy affects the offspring’s lifelong propensity for physical activity and may have important implications for combating the worldwide epidemic of physical inactivity and obesity.Previous rodent studies have shown that maternal voluntary exercise during pregnancy leads to metabolic changes in adult offspring. We set out to test whether maternal voluntary exercise during pregnancy also induces persistent changes in voluntary physical activity in the offspring. Adult C57BL/6J female mice were randomly assigned to be caged with an unlocked (U) or locked (L) running wheel before and during pregnancy. Maternal running behavior was monitored during pregnancy, and body weight, body composition, food intake, energy expenditure, total cage activity, and running wheel activity were measured in the offspring at various ages. U offspring were slightly heavier at birth, but no group differences in body weight or composition were observed at later ages (when mice were caged without access to running wheels). Consistent with our hypothesis, U offspring were more physically active as adults. This effect was observed earlier in female offspring (at sexual maturation). Remarkably, at 300 d of age, U females achieved greater fat loss in response to a 3-wk voluntary exercise program. Our findings show for the first time that maternal physical activity during pregnancy affects the offspring’s lifelong propensity for physical activity and may have important implications for combating the worldwide epidemic of physical inactivity and obesity.