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 a nd hyperlipidaemia, associated with hyperinsulinaemia, impaired glucose tol erance and hypertension. The offspring of mother rats exposed to protein ma lnutrition during gestation and lactation (LP) develop syndrome X-like dist urbances during life, for unclear reasons. In male rats born to LP mothers underweight (p < 0.001) and hypoinsulinaemia (p < 0.05) at weaning were acc ompanied by a strong increase of galanin (GAL) in the paraventricular hypot halamic nucleus (p < 0.001), while leptin levels were found to be normal. T hese findings indicate an activation and overstimulation in early undernour ished rats of the hypothalamic galaninergic system known to stimulate fat i ngestion. Long-term consequences for the development of syndrome X-like alt erations might be suggested. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.