Modest maternal protein restriction fails to program adult hypertension in female rats

Abstract

restriction in the rat leads to hypertension in adult male offspring. The purpose of this study was to determine whether female rats are resistant to developing the increased blood pressure seen in male rats after maternal protein restriction. Pregnant rats were fed a normal protein (19%, NP) or low-protein (8.5%, LP) diet throughout gestation. Renal renin protein and ANG II levels were reduced by 50 -65% in male LP compared with NP pups, but were not suppressed in female LP compared with female NP. Mean arterial pressure in conscious, chronically instrumented adult female offspring (22 wk

Sex differences in the fetal programming of hypertension

“…However, moderate protein restriction during gestation in the rat leads to marked increases in blood pressure in male offspring associated with a reduced nephron number (29). Only a more severe nutritional insult leads to hypertension and changes in renal structure in both male and female offspring (29). A similar pattern of response is observed in models induced by variations in sodium intake during pregnancy and lactation (30).…”

“…Severity of the nutritional insult also alters the adaptive response. Moderate nutrimental insult leads to reduced nephron number in male offspring only (29). Only a more severe nutritional insult leads to reduced nephron number in male and female offspring of protein restricted dams (29).…”

“…Blood pressure is also significantly higher in males than females in response to pharmacological levels of dexamethasone administered during early gestation in sheep (27,28). However, moderate protein restriction during gestation in the rat leads to marked increases in blood pressure in male offspring associated with a reduced nephron number (29). Only a more severe nutritional insult leads to hypertension and changes in renal structure in both male and female offspring (29).…”

Effect of Intrauterine Growth Restriction on Kidney Function at Young Adult Age: The Nord Trøndelag Health (HUNT 2) Study

“…[41][42][43] In different species and using different methods for creating an adverse fetal environment, male offspring consistently experienced worse outcomes. Our findings are in accordance with these results.…”

Developmental origins of health and disease: experimental and human evidence of fetal programming for metabolic syndrome

“…This resistance might be due to the fact that modest maternal protein restriction does not reduce the number of glomeruli in female rats. 96 Interestingly, programming by low-protein during gestation and/or lactation in rats can be passed transgenerationally, 97 apparently in a genderspecific manner. 98 This observation suggests the potential contribution of genetic and/or epigenetic mechanisms for the pathophysiology of fetal programming in rodents.…”