MATERNAL DIETARY GLUCOSE MODIFIES PHOSPHOENOLPYRUVATE CARBOXYKINASE (PEPCK) GENE-EXPRESSION IN THE KIDNEY OF NEWBORN RATS

The consequence of low maternal dietary glucose on perinatal phosphoen olpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK EC 4.1.32) gene expression was investi gated. Pregnant rats were fed isoenergetic diets containing graded lev els of glucose (0, 12, 24, and 60%) from gestation day 2 to lactation day 15. The postnatal developmental profile of PEPCK mRNA in the neona tal kidney was analysed by Northern blot and presented as PEPCK/GAPDH mRNA ratios. In comparison with the 24 and 60% dietary groups, materna l dietary glucose restriction (0 or 12%) during pregnancy resulted in a significant delay in postnatal renal PEPCK gene expression. In these glucose restricted pups, renal PEPCK mRNA was barely detected at birt h and was fully visualized only at 4-6 hr; it peaked 24 hr after birth , which was 12 hr later than pups born to darns fed 24 or 60% glucose diets. These results demonstrate for the first time that maternal diet ary glucose can modify postnatal renal PEPCK gene expression during pe rinatal development when glucose homeostasis via gluconeogenesis is cr itical for neonatal survival. (C) 1997 Academic Press.