Maternal protein restriction alters oxidative status and secretory activity in the endocrine pancreas in early-life

The Developmental Origin of Health and Diseases (DOHaD) concept seeks to establish the correlation between the incidence of diseases in adulthood and aging concerning events experienced during early development. One of the most widely used models for DOHaD studies is maternal exposure to protein restriction (MPR). Experimental studies have shown that MPR promoted offspring low birth weight, decreased fat deposition, altered serum levels of steroid hormones and oxidative stress, and development of metabolic syndromes in adulthood. Pancreas is a central organ for maintenance of the systemic homeostasis.