To date, caloric restriction has shown itself to be the most reproducible and promising intervention to improve cancer outcomes in laboratory animals. An intense and expanding area of research is focused on discovering easily achievable interventions that can have long-lasting positive effects. This proposal will explore maternal exercise during pregnancy as a potential short-term intervention that can provide a lifetime of benefits for the next generation. In a small pilot study in mice, offspring born to exercised dams had improved glucose regulation and enhanced stress protection compared to offspring born to sedentary dams. These preliminary findings contribute to the hypothesis that maternal exercise during pregnancy and nursing protects mature offspring against chemical carcinogens because of increased activities of antioxidant enzymes.
The first aim i s designed to test whether maternal exercise during pregnancy is a realistic intervention that can protect mature offspring from chemical carcinogens.
The second aim will look to elucidate the role of the stress-induced transcription factor, nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2, as a potential mechanism for long-lasting protection by perinatal exercise. These studies will provide important information on the potential positive impact maternal exercise may have on offspring cancer protection.

Public Health Relevance

The benefits of exercise have been studied extensively, but the effects of maternal exercise during pregnancy on long-term outcomes in offspring have been neglected. The goal is to use maternal exercise in mice as an intervention to increase cancer protection in the offspring through increased activity of antioxidant enzymes.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
5R03CA165086-02
Application #
8507646
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCA1-SRLB-2 (M1))
Program Officer
Riscuta, Gabriela
Project Start
2012-07-09
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2013-07-01
Budget End
2014-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$69,795
Indirect Cost
$22,795
Name
University of Kentucky
Department
Nutrition
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
939017877
City
Lexington
State
KY
Country
United States
Zip Code
40506
Preston, Joshua D; Reynolds, Leryn J; Pearson, Kevin J (2018) Developmental Origins of Health Span and Life Span: A Mini-Review. Gerontology 64:237-245
Carter, Lindsay G; D'Orazio, John A; Pearson, Kevin J (2014) Resveratrol and cancer: focus on in vivo evidence. Endocr Relat Cancer 21:R209-25