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Combined prenatal and postnatal protein restriction influences adult kidney structure, function, and arterial

Chantal C Hoppe1, Roger G Evans, Karen M Moritz

  • 1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia. Chantal.Hoppe@med.monash.edu.au

American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology
|September 16, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Life-long protein restriction in rats led to fewer nephrons but lower adult blood pressure. The postnatal environment significantly influences developmental programming outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental programming
  • Nutritional science
  • Renal physiology

Background:

  • Prenatal protein restriction's effects on adult renal and cardiovascular function are known.
  • Effects of life-long protein restriction are less understood, especially in developing regions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of combined pre- and postnatal protein restriction on adult arterial pressure and renal function in rats.
  • To determine the impact of increased dietary sodium on these parameters.
  • To quantify nephron number in protein-restricted rats.

Main Methods:

  • Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed low-protein (LP) or normal-protein (NP) diets throughout pregnancy and post-birth.
  • Nephron number, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and renal function were assessed at postnatal day 135.
  • A subset of rats received a high-salt diet from weaning.

Main Results:

  • LP rats had 31% fewer nephrons than NP rats.
  • MAP was lower in LP rats (120 mmHg) compared to NP rats (128 mmHg).
  • Increased salt intake did not significantly alter MAP but appeared to increase glomerular filtration rate in LP rats.

Conclusions:

  • Protein restriction induces a severe nephron deficit.
  • Contrary to expectations, protein restriction resulted in lower adult MAP.
  • Postnatal environment is crucial in determining developmental programming outcomes.

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