Maternal high-fat diet consumption and chronic hyperandrogenemia are associated with placental dysfunction in female rhesus macaques.

Abstract

The risk of adverse perinatal outcomes with maternal polycystic ovarian syndrome may differ among hyperandrogenic and non-hyperandrogenic phenotypes and is likely modulated by both maternal obesity and diet. The relative contribution of maternal hyperandrogenism and nutritional status to placental dysfunction is unknown. 39 female rhesus macaques were assigned at puberty to one of four treatment groups: subcutaneous cholesterol implants and a standard chow diet (controls, C); testosterone implants and a normal diet (T); cholesterol implants and a high-fat, Western-style diet (WSD); and testosterone implants in combination with a high-fat diet (T+WSD). After 3.5 years of treatment, contrast-enhanced and Doppler ultrasound analysis of placental blood flow was performed for a representative subset of animals from each treatment group during pregnancy, and placental architecture assessed with stereological analysis. Placental growth factors, cellular nutrient sensors, and angiogenic markers were measured with ELISA and Western blotting. WSD consumption was associated with a 30% increase in placental flux rate relative to that in animals receiving a normal diet. T and WSD treatments were each independently associated with increased villous volume, while T was associated with an approximately 40% decrease fetal capillary volume on stereological analysis. T treatment was associated with significantly increased mTOR and SOCS3 expression. WSD consumption was associated with decreased GLUT1 expression and microvillous membrane localization. Both hyperandrogenemic and non-hyperandrogenemic phenotypes are associated with altered placental angiogenesis, nutrient sensing, and glucose transport. WSD and T appear to have distinct effects on vascular impedance and capillary angiogenesis.