Maternal high-fat diet exposure is associated with altered hypothalamic microglial development and reduced early postnatal TGFβ1 signaling in male offspring
By
Nan Chen
Huabin Ye
Yi Ren
June 22, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Impact of Maternal High-Fat Diet on Hypothalamic Microglial Development and Early Postnatal TGFβ1 Signaling in Male Offspring
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Maternal High-Fat Diet Effects on Offspring Key Mechanisms Microglial development and TGFβ1 signaling Target Population Male offspring of HFD-fed dams Care Setting Neuroscience and developmental biology research
Key Highlights
Maternal high-fat diet disrupts hypothalamic microglial development. Microglial features are altered in male offspring due to maternal diet. TGFβ1 signaling is critical for microglial maturation during early development. Neonatal TGFβ1 supplementation improves microglial homeostatic features. Reduced pSMAD3 signaling is observed in microglia of HFD offspring. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Assess microglial morphology and signaling pathways in hypothalamic tissue. Management
Consider TGFβ1 supplementation to support microglial development. Monitoring & Follow-up
Evaluate microglial abundance and homeostatic markers during early postnatal stages. Risks
Increased susceptibility to metabolic disorders in offspring from HFD exposure. Patient & Prescribing Data
Male offspring exposed to maternal high-fat diet.
Neonatal TGFβ1 supplementation may enhance microglial development.
Clinical Best Practices
Monitor maternal diet during pregnancy for potential impacts on offspring. Investigate early interventions to support neurodevelopment in offspring. Related Resources & Content
