Microarray analysis of developmentally programmed hepatic steatosis in Undernourishment in utero mouse model

Nutritional imbalances in the early developmental period have an impact on the long-term risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In the present study, we demonstrated that tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), a secondary bile acid, and markedly ameliorated hepatic steatosis in a mouse model of undernourishment in utero. Herein, we studied the effect of maternal caloric restriction on genetic expression by microarray analysis among 3 different time points of independent cohorts. Cohort 1 (at 9 weeks; without HFD), cohort 2 (at 17 weeks; with HFD), and cohort 3 (at 22 weeks; HFD with or without the TUDCA treatment) (Muramatsu-Kato et al., 2015). We compared the alteration in gene expression between NN pups and UN pups before and after postnatal high-fat diet (HFD) at 9 weeks and 17 weeks. Later we studied the TUDCA treatment responce on NN pups and UN pups. Hepatic tissues were obtained from mice with Normal nutrtition in utero (NN) and Undernourishment in utero (UN, 40% caloric restriction) at 9, 17 and 22 weeks. A high-fat diet (HFD) was provided to pups (9-22 weeks) treated with TUDCA or vehicle (17-22 weeks).