Hypoxia-Induced Intrauterine Growth Restriction Increases the Susceptibility of Rats to High-Fat Diet–Induced Metabolic Syndrome

OBJECTIVE—It is recognized that there is a remarkable vari-ability in the systemic response to high-fat (HF) diets that cannot be completely explained by genetic factors. In addition, pregnancy complications leading to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) have been associated with an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) later in life. Thus, we hypothesized that offspring born with IUGR exhibit permanent metabolic changes that make them more susceptible to HF diet–induced MetS. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—SD rats born normal (control) or with hypoxia-induced IUGR were randomized to low-fat (10 % fat) or HF (45 % fat) diets. After 9 weeks of feeding, physiological and molecular pathways involved in the MetS were evaluated. RESULTS—IUGR offspring exhibited decreased energy intak