Maternal low-protein diet during pregnancy is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease of the offspring in later life. The impact of high-protein diet during pregnancy on the cardiovascular phenotype of the offspring, however, is still unknown. We examined the influence of a high-protein diet during pregnancy and lactation on the renal, hemodynamic, and metabolic phenotype of the F1 generation. Female Wistar rats were either fed a normal protein diet (20% protein: NP) or an isocaloric high-protein diet (40% protein: HP) throughout pregnancy and lactation. At weaning, the offspring were fed with standard diet, and they were allocated according to sex and maternal diet to four groups: normal-protein male (NPm, n = 25), normal-protein female (NPf, n = 19), high-protein male (HPm, n = 24), high-protein female (HPf, n = 29). During the experiment (22 wk), the animals were characterized by repeated measurement of body weight, food intake, blood pressure, glucose tolerance, energy expenditure, and kidney function. At the end of the study period histomorphological analyses of the kidneys and weight measurement of reproductive fat pads were conducted. There were no differences in birth weight between the study groups. No influence of maternal diet on energy expenditure, glucose tolerance, and plasma lipid levels was detected. Blood pressure and glomerulosclerosis were elevated in male offspring only, whereas female offspring were characterized by an increased food efficiency, higher body weight, and increased fat pads. Our study demonstrates that a high-protein diet during pregnancy and lactation in rats programs blood pressure, food efficiency, and body weight of the offspring in a sex-dependent manner.

We demonstrate for the first time that the novel sGC stimulator riociguat shows in two independent models of hypertension a potent protection against cardiac and renal target organ damage.

1 Chronic renal disease is associated with oxidative stress, reduced nitric oxide (NO) availability and soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) dysfunction. Recently, we discovered BAY 58-2667, a compound activating heme-deficient or oxidized sGC in a NO-independent manner. 2 We assessed potential of BAY 58-2667 in preventing cardiac and renal target organ damage in rats with 5/6 nephrectomy. 3 Male Wistar rats were allocated to three groups: 5/6 nephrectomy, 5/6 nephrectomy treated with BAY 58-2667 and sham operation. Study period was 18 weeks: blood pressure and creatinine clearance were assessed repeatedly. At study end blood samples were taken and hearts and kidneys harvested for histological studies. 4 BAY 58-2667 markedly lowered blood pressure in animals with 5/6 nephrectomy (untreated versus treated animals: 189714 versus 146711 mmHg, Po0.001). Left ventricular weight, cardiac myocyte diameter as well as cardiac arterial wall thickness significantly decreased in comparison to untreated animals with 5/6 nephrectomy. Natriuretic peptide plasma levels were also improved by BAY 58-2667. Kidney function and morphology as assessed by creatinine clearance, glomerulosclerosis, interstitial and perivascular fibrosis of intrarenal arteries were likewise significantly improved by BAY 58-2667. 5 This is the first study showing that BAY 58-2667 effectively lowers blood pressure, reduces left ventricular hypertrophy and slows renal disease progression in rats with 5/6 nephrectomy by targeting mainly oxidized sGC. Therefore, BAY 58-2667 represents a novel pharmacological principle with potential clinical value in treatment of chronic renal disease.

Introduction Maternal body mass index has an impact on maternal and fetal pregnancy outcome. An increased maternal BMI is known to be associated with admission of the newborn to a neonatal care unit. The reasons and impact of this admission on fetal outcome, however, are unknown so far. Objective The aim of our study was to investigate the impact of maternal BMI on maternal and fetal pregnancy outcome with special focus on the children admitted to a neonatal care unit. Methods A cohort of 2049 non-diabetic mothers giving birth in the Charite university hospital was prospectively studied. The impact of maternal BMI on maternal and fetal outcome parameters was tested using multivariate regression analysis. Outcome of children admitted to a neonatal ward (n = 505) was analysed. Results Increased maternal BMI was associated with an increased risk for hypertensive complications, peripheral edema, caesarean section, fetal macrosomia and admission of the newborn to a neonatal care unit, whereas decreased BMI was associated with preterm birth and lower birthweight. In the neonatal ward children from obese mothers are characterized by hypoglycaemia. They need less oxygen, and exhibit a shorter stay on the neonatal ward compared to children from normal weight mothers, whereas children from underweight mothers are characterized by lower umbilical blood pH and increased incidence of death corresponding to increased prevalence of preterm birth. Conclusion Pregnancy outcome is worst in babies from mothers with low body mass index as compared to healthy weight mothers with respect to increased incidence of preterm birth, lower birth weight and increased neonate mortality on the neonatal ward. We demonstrate that the increased risk for neonatal admission in children from obese mothers does not necessarily indicate severe fetal impairment.

Background and purpose: Myocardial fibrosis is an unwanted effect associated with chronic renal failure. The adenosine system is involved in cardiac and renal function. Therefore, we investigated the novel selective adenosine A 1 receptor antagonist SLV320 focusing on its potential in preventing cardiomyopathy in rats with 5/6 nephrectomy. Experimental approach: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to 4 groups of 12 rats each: 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 NX), 5/6 NX plus SLV320 (10 mg kg À1 d À1 mixed with food), sham and sham plus SLV320. Study duration was 12 weeks, blood pressure was assessed repeatedly. At study end kidney function was assessed, blood samples and hearts were taken for histology/immunohistochemistry. Pharmacological properties of SLV320 were assessed using receptor binding and enzyme assays and in vivo. Key results: SLV320 is a selective and potent adenosine A 1 antagonist in vitro (Ki ¼ 1 nM) with a selectivity factor of at least 200 versus other adenosine receptor subtypes. Functional A 1 antagonism was demonstrated in vivo. In rats with 5/6 NX SLV320 significantly decreased albuminuria by about 50%, but did not alter glomerular filtration rate (GFR). SLV320 normalized cardiac collagen I þ III contents in 5/6 NX rats. SLV320 prevented nephrectomy-dependent rise in plasma levels of creatinine kinase (CK), ALT and AST. Blood pressure did not differ between study groups. Conclusion: SLV320 suppresses cardiac fibrosis and attenuates albuminuria without affecting blood pressure in rats with 5/6 nephrectomy, indicating that selective A 1 receptor antagonists may be beneficial in uraemic cardiomyopathy.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is one of the most potent biologic vasoconstrictors. Nevertheless, transgenic mice that overexpress ET-1 exhibit normal BP. It was hypothesized that vascular effects of ET-1 may be antagonized by an increase of the endothelial counterpart of ET-1, nitric oxide (NO), which is produced by the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). Therefore, cross-bred animals of ET transgenic mice (ET؉/؉) and eNOS knockout (eNOS؊/؊) mice and were generated, and BP and endothelial function were evaluated in these animals. Endothelium-dependent and -independent vascular function was assessed as relaxation/contraction of isolated preconstricted aortic rings. The tissue ET and NO system was determined in aortic rings by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting. Systolic BP was similar in ET؉/؉ and wild-type (WT) mice but was significantly elevated in eNOS؊/؊ mice (117 ؎ 4 mmHg versus 94 ؎ 6 mmHg in WT mice; P < 0.001) and even more elevated in ET؉/؉ eNOS؊/؊ cross-bred mice (130 ؎ 4 mmHg; P < 0.05 versus eNOS؊/؊). Maximum endothelium-dependent relaxation was enhanced in ET؉/؉ mice (103 ؎ 6 versus 87 ؎ 4% of preconstriction in WT littermates; P < 0.05) and was completely blunted in eNOS؊/؊ (؊3 ؎ 4%) and ET؉/؉ eNOS؊/؊ mice (؊4 ؎ 4%), respectively. Endothelium-independent relaxation was comparable among all groups. T he intact endothelium produces a variety of vasoactive substances, such as nitric oxide (NO), thromboxane, and the 21-amino acid peptide endothelin-1 (ET-1). ET-1 is a potent vasoconstrictor (1) and mitogen in vivo and in vitro and exerts its biologic effects via activation of specific receptors: Whereas on vascular smooth muscle cells the predominant ET receptor is the ET A receptor (ET A R) subtype (2,3), contributing to long-lasting vasoconstriction, endothelial cells express the ET B receptor (ET B R), mediating the formation of NO (4) and prostacyclin (5) and featuring the pulmonary clearance of circulating ET-1 (6) as well as the reuptake of ET-1 by endothelial cells (7).Correspondingly, intravenous administration of ET-1 causes a rapid and transient vasodilation followed by a sustained increase in BP (8). In addition to the negative feedback loop via ET B R, ET-1 production in the vascular wall is inhibited by NO (9) and prostacyclin (10) via cGMP-dependent mechanisms. Therefore, the NO system may be considered as the functional counterpart of the ET system (11-16), thus warranting the sub-

Abstract. Tissue concentrations of ET-1 are markedly elevated in the kidneys of Han:Sprague-Dawley (Han:SPRD) rats, a model of human autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). This study analyzed whether disease progression might be attenuated by endothelin receptor antagonists. Heterozygous Han:SPRD rats received an ETA receptor antagonist (LU 135252), a combined ETA/ETB receptor antagonist (LU 224332), or placebo for 4 mo. Glomerulosclerosis, protein excretion, and GFR remained unchanged, whereas interstitial fibrosis was enhanced by both compounds. BP was not reduced by both compounds in Han:SPRD rats. Renal blood flow (RBF) decreased in ADPKD rats treated with the ETA receptor antagonist. Long-term ETA receptor blockade furthermore increased markedly the number of renal cysts (ADPKD rats, 390 Ϯ 119 [cysts/kidney section Ϯ SD]; LU 135252-treated APKD rats, 1084 Ϯ 314; P Ͻ 0.001), cyst surface area (ADPKD rats, 7.97 Ϯ 2.04 [% of total section surface Ϯ SD]; LU 135252-treated ADPKD rats, 33.83 Ϯ 10.03; P Ͻ 0.001), and cell proliferation of tubular cells (ADPKD rats, 42.2 Ϯ 17.3 [BrdUpositive cells/1000 cells]; LU 135252-treated ADPKD rats, 339.4 Ϯ 286.9; P Ͻ 0.001). The additional blockade of the ETB receptor attenuated these effects in Han:SPRD rats. Both endothelin receptor antagonists had no effect on BP, protein excretion, GFR, and kidney morphology in Sprague-Dawley rats without renal cysts. It is concluded that ETA receptor blockade enhances tubular cell proliferation, cyst number, and size and reduces RBF in Han:SPRD rats. This is of major clinical impact because endothelin receptor antagonists are upcoming clinically used drugs.

Background/Aims: Preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) significantly influence mortality and morbidity of the offspring in early life and also have long-term consequences in later life. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of preterm birth could provide new insights regarding putative preventive strategies. Metabolomics provides a powerful analytic tool to readout complex interactions between genetics, environment and health and may serve to identify relevant biomarkers. In this study, the association between 163 targeted maternal blood metabolites and gestational age was investigated in order to find candidate biomarkers for PTB. Methods: Five hundred twenty-three women were included into this observational study. Maternal blood was obtained before delivery. The concentration of 163 maternal serum metabolites was measured by flow injection tandem mass spectrometry. To find putative biomarkers for preterm birth, a three-step analysis was designed: bivariate correlation analysis followed by multivariable regression analysis and a comparison of mean values among gestational age groups. Results: Bivariate correlation analysis showed that 2 acylcarnitines (C16:2, C2), 1 amino acids (xLeu), 8 diacyl-PCs (PCaaC36:4, PCaaC38:4, PCaaC38:5, PCaaC38:6, PCaaC40:4, PCaaC40:5, PCaaC40:6, PCaaC42:4), and 1 Acylalkyl-PCs (PCaeC40:5) were inversely correlated with gestational age. Multivariable regression analysis confounded for PTB history, maternal body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy, systolic blood pressure at the third trimester, and maternal body weight at the third trimester, showed that the diacyl-PC PCaaC38:6 was the only metabolite inversely correlated with gestational age. Conclusions: Maternal blood concentrations of PCaaC38:6 are independently associated with gestational age.