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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 289/5/R1400    most recent 00319.2005v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tappia, P. S. Articles by Dhalla, N. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tappia, P. S. Articles by Dhalla, N. S.

DEVELOPMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY AND PREGNANCY

Phospholipid profile of developing heart of rats exposed to low-protein diet in pregnancy

Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research Center, and Departments of ¹Human Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, ²Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Faculty of Medicine, and ³Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

Submitted 5 May 2005 ; accepted in final form 8 July 2005

Although the myocardial phospholipid and fatty acid content have profound effects on the heart function, very little information is available on the effects of restricted maternal protein intake during pregnancy on the phospholipid profile and fatty acid content of the developing heart. The present study was therefore undertaken to examine the effect of pregnant dams fed diets containing either 180 (normal) or 90 (low) g/kg casein diet for 2 wk before mating and throughout pregnancy on myocardial phospholipid and fatty acid content of male offspring. Whereas no changes in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were detected, increases in lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, and sphingomyelin were seen in the hearts of offspring in the low-protein (LP) group. Analysis of cardiac fatty acids revealed that although the saturated fatty acid (myristate, palmitate, and stearate) levels were significantly reduced, the unsaturated fatty acid (linoleate, arachidonate, and decosahexanoate) levels were significantly increased in the developing heart in the LP group. Furthermore, assessment of nuclear transcription factors involved in regulation of cardiac metabolism revealed a decrease in myocyte enhancer factor-2C mRNA levels in the LP group, whereas an increase in the mRNA amount of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor- was observed in this group. These results demonstrate that maternal LP diet can induce changes in the phospholipid profile and fatty acid content of the developing heart, which may have implications for metabolism of the neonatal heart.

maternal low-protein diet; fatty acids; energy metabolism