Subnutrition in different pregnancy stages affects IGF-1 serum concentration, its receptor expression and testicular morphology in pubertal male rats

In order to study the effects of subnutrition during different pregnancy stages on testicle development and its impact on both, IGF-1 serum concentration and its receptor production in Sertoli, Leydig and myoid cells, twenty-four primiparous female Wistar rats (331.9 ± 12.4 g body weight) were mated by the same male rat. Four groups were established: (CC) fed ad libitum during the entire pregnancy, (RC) restricted for days 0–10 of pregnancy, restricted from day 11 of pregnancy till parturition and (CR) restricted during the entire pregnancy (RR). All males from all groups were fed without restrictions since birth until puberty at day 40. During restriction stages, animals were offered 50% of the ad libitum daily food intake. Both, body and testicular weight were affected depending on which pregnancy stage the treatment was applied. On the other hand, IGF-1 production and the total Sertoli cell number was lower at day 40 if the treatment had been applied during either the entire pregnancy or in the second half. IGF-1 receptor expression was affected in Leydig cells if restriction was applied, regardless of which restricted group was studied. However, in myoid cells IGF-1 receptor expression increased when treatment was applied during the entire pregnancy. In conclusion, subnutrition in the different pregnancy stages affects body development, testicular weight and testicular morphology in pubertal male rats.