Maternal dexamethasone and GLP-2 have early effects on intestinal sugar transport in their suckling rat offspring

Both glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) and glucocorticosteroids enhance intestinal uptake in mature animals. Maternal stimuli may cause intestinal adaptation in the offspring. We hypothesized that administering GLP-2, dexamethasone (DEX) or a combination of GLP-2+DEX to rat dams during pregnancy and lactation would enhance intestinal sugar uptake in their offspring. Rat dams were treated with GLP-2 (0.1 μg/g/day), DEX (0.128 μg/g/day), a combination of GLP-2+DEX or placebo. Glucose and fructose uptake was assessed in their suckling offspring using an in vitro intestinal ring uptake technique. The protein abundance of SGLT1, GLUT5, GLUT2, Na+K+-ATPase and selected signals was determined by immunohistochemistry; GLP-2 caused hypertrophy of the jejunal enterocytes and increased ileal villous height. Jejunal fructose uptake was reduced by GLP-2, DEX and GLP-2+DEX. Vmax for jejunal glucose uptake was reduced with DEX and GLP-2+DEX. These declines were not explained by alterations in transporter abundance. Decreases in Akt and mTOR abundance were associated with declines in transporter activity. We speculate that the intrinsic activity of the sugar transporters was modified via the P13K pathway. In conclusion, maternal GLP-2 and DEX reduced intestinal sugar uptake in their offspring. This may have nutritional implications for the offspring of mothers treated with GLP-2 or steroids.