Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of prenatal exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on insulin resistance in adult offspring rats. Methods Nulliparous, time-matched Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups (n= 10 for each group): control group and LPS group. On the pregnant day 8, 10 and 12, rats in control group and LPS group were administered intraperitoneally with saline 0.5 mL or LPS 0.40 mg/kg, respectively. The blood levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), insulin and Leptin were detected at 90 days of age in offspring. The steady state insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and insulin sensitivity index (QUICKI) were evaluated in adult offspring rats. Results Compared with the control group, blood levels of FPG (mmol/L: 7.72±0.42 vs 7.02±0.42), insulin (mIU/L: 8.78±4.10 vs 1.51±0.27) and Leptin (μg/L: 3.88± 1.40 vs 1.00±0.33) were significantly increased in offsping of LPS group, as well as HOMA-IR (3.01±1.41 vs 0.47±0.09) in⁃ creased, while QUICKI (0.57±0.07 vs 0.99±0.08) decreased in offsping of LPS-treated rats. Conclusion Prenatal exposure to LPS can result in abnormality of insulin resistance in offspring rats.

Key words: fertile period, inflammation, lipopolysaccharides, rats, Sprague-Dawley, offspring rats； insulin resistance