Hypothalamic galanin levels in weanling rats exposed to maternal low-protein diet

Perinatal malnutrition and growth retardation at birth are risk factors for the later development of Syndrome X which is characterized by overweight and hyperlipidaemia, associated with hyperinsulinaemia, impaired glucose tolerance and hypertension. The offspring of mother rats exposed to protein malnutrition during gestation and lactation (LP) develop syndrome X-like disturbances during life, for unclear reasons. In male rats born to LP mothers underweight (p < 0.001) and hypoinsulinaemia (p < 0.05) at weaning were accompanied by a strong increase of galanin (GAL) in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (p < 0.001), while leptin levels were found to be normal. These findings indicate an activation and overstimulation in early undernourished rats of the hypothalamic galaninergic system known to stimulate fat ingestion. Long-term consequences for the development of syndrome X-like alterations might be suggested. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.