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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 295/1/R197    most recent 00741.2007v1 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 Google Scholar Articles by Brennan, K. A. Articles by Olson, D. M. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Brennan, K. A. Articles by Olson, D. M.

DEVELOPMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY AND PREGNANCY

Differential effects of maternal nutrient restriction through pregnancy on kidney development and later blood pressure control in the resulting offspring

¹Centre for Reproduction and Early Life, Institute of Clinical Research, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom; and ²Perinatal Research Centre, Departments of ³Physiology, and ⁴Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Submitted 12 October 2007 ; accepted in final form 13 May 2008

The mechanisms whereby maternal nutritional manipulation through pregnancy result in altered blood pressure in the offspring may include changes in fetal and newborn and adult renal prostaglandin (PG) synthesis, metabolism, and receptor expression. Since the postnatal effects of nutrient restriction on the renal PG synthesis and receptor system during nephrogenesis in conjunction with nephron numbers and blood pressure have not been evaluated in the rat, the present study examined the effect of reducing maternal food intake by 50% of ad libitum through pregnancy on young male rats. Six control-fed mothers and eight nutrient-restricted pregnant rats with single litter mates were used at each sampling time point, most of which occurred during nephrogenesis. Offspring of nutrient-restricted dams were lighter from birth to 3 days. This was accompanied by reduced PGE₂, with smaller kidneys up to 14 days. Nutrient restriction also decreased mRNA expression of the PG synthesis enzyme, had little effect on the PG receptors, and increased mRNA expression of the degradation enzyme during nephrogenesis and the glucocorticoid receptor in the adult kidney. These mRNA changes were normally accompanied by similar changes in protein. Nephron number was also reduced from 7 days up to adulthood when blood pressure (measured by telemetry) did not increase as much as in control offspring during the dark, active period. In conclusion, maternal nutrient restriction suppressed renal PG concentrations in the offspring, and this was associated with suppressed kidney growth and development and decreased blood pressure.

kidney; nutrient restriction; offspring; prostaglandins