Effects of maternal feeding with different high fat diets on cellular composition of lymphoid compartments in the spleen and lymphoid infiltrates of mammary gland tumors in rat offspring

We studied whether feeding pregnant female rats a 15% olive-oil diet affect s the splenic lymphoid system and synthesis of apoptosis-related proteins i n offspring with chemically induced mammary glands tumors. Rat mothers were fed either a 7% corn-oil or a 15% olive-oil diet. Five-week-old offspring were exposed twice to the carcinogen, dimethylbenz(a)antracene, (10 mg/rat) and divided into 3 groups. Control group fed the 7% corn-oil control diet as their mothers. The first experimental group was fed a control diet (7% c orn-oil) whereas their mothers were fed 15% olive-oil diet. The second expe rimental group was fed the same 15% olive-oil diet as their mothers. Result s of experiments were studied 4 months later. The activity of lymphoid elem ents of the spleen and of tumors were studied using immunohistochemical met hods for evaluating different types of lymphocytes (B and T cells) and the synthesis of apoptosis-related proteins (Fas ligand, p53, Bcl-2). Maternal feeding a diet rich in olive oil before and throughout pregnancy resulted i n different manners in their offspring, and results were dependent on diets fed their progeny. In the spleen, feeding mothers the 15% olive-oil diet i nhibited the reaction of zones producing the B and T lymphocytes in offspri ng fed a control diet. In offspring fed the 15% olive-oil diet, the activat ion of the lymphoid, system was seen. In tumors, activity of T cell killers /suppressors, macrophages and of the synthesis of Bcl-2 protein was found t o manifest on their border. The positive correlation was found between the most parameters studied. The effect of maternal feeding a high-fat diet was manifested in a different manner in different parts of the spleen. In the white pulp, the effect was manifested only in an increase in the size of th e germinal center due to the activation of production of B cells and was se en even in offspring fed a regular diet. In the red pulp, such effect was e xhibited in an increase in the number of T cell killers and macrophages in both groups of progeny. The findings indicate that feeding mothers a diet h igh in olive oil concentrations retains its cancer-modulating role in offsp ring, but such a role is manifested in different manners, mostly at a cellu lar level.