Maternal omega-3 fatty acid deficiency affects fetal thermogenic development and postnatal musculoskeletal growth in mice

Maternal omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) deficiency can affect offspring’s adiposity and metabolism by modulating lipid and glucose metabolism. However, the impact of n-3 PUFA deficiency on the development of fetal thermogenesis and its consequences is not reported. Using an n-3 PUFA deficient mice, we assessed fetal interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT), body fat composition, insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), glucose transporters (GLUTs), and expression of lipid storage & metabolic proteins in the offspring. The n-3 PUFA deficiency did not change the pups’ calorie intake, organ weight, and body weight. However, the offspring’s skeletal growth was altered due to excess fat to lean mass, reduced tibia & femur elongation, dysregulated IGF-1 in the mother and pups (pGPR120were downregulated while FABP3, ADRP, GLUT4 expressions were upregulated in the BAT of the deficient offspring (pSCD1, FASN, andMFSD2AmRNAs in the liver (pHighlightMaternal n-3 PUFA deficiency dysregulated the development of fetal adipose browningN-3 PUFA regulates fetal thermogenic development by altering UCP1 expressionBAT had higher metabolic sensitivity compared to WAT in n-3 PUFA deficiencyIncreased fat mass and IGF-1 played a role in promoting adiposity in n-3 PUFA deficiency