Paternal obesity and its transgenerational effects on gastrointestinal function in male rat offspring

The interplay between obesity and gastrointestinal (GI) motility is contradictory, and the transgenerational influence on this parameter is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the GI function in a model of paternal obesity and two subsequent generations of their male offspring. Newborn male rats were treated with monosodium glutamate (MSG) and composed the F1 generation, while control rats (CONT) received saline. At 90 days, male F1 were mated with non-obese females to obtain male offspring (F2), which later mated with non-obese females for obtaining male offspring of F3 generation. Lee Index analysis was adopted to set up the obesity groups. Alternating current biosusceptometry (ACB) technique was employed to calculate GI transit parameters: mean gastric emptying time (MGET), mean cecum arrival time (MCAT), mean small intestinal transit time (MSITT), and gastric frequency and amplitude of contractions. Glucose, insulin, and leptin levels and duodenal morphometry were measured. F1 obese rats showed a decrease in the frequency and amplitude of gastric contractions, while obese rats from the F2 generation showed accelerated MGET and delayed MCAT and MSITT. Glucose and leptin levels were increased in F1 and F2 generations. Insulin levels decreased in F1, F2, and F3 generations. Duodenal morphometry was altered in all three generations. Obesity may have paternal transgenerational transmission, and it provoked disturbances in the gastrointestinal function of three generations.

Estudos em magnetogastrografia / Study in magnetogastrography

O registro da atividade elétrica doo estômago, através da detecção do campo magnético associado foi detectado. A comparação desta atividade através do registro simultâneo do sinal elétrico e magnético foi feita através da função de correlação, análise de Fourier e testes estatísticos. A medida desta atividade pode auxiliar no diagnóstico de patologias do trato gastrointestinal. O método magnético apresenta a vantagem de ser completamente não invasivo.

Abstract - This work shows the study of the stomach electrical activity by the measurement of the magnetic field produced by the electrical currents generated at the stomach. A comparison between the electric and magnetic measurements was performed by the correlation function, Fourier analysis and statistical tests. These measurements can help on diagnostic of gastric-intestinal pathologies. This method has the advantage of the being non invasive