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[Blood pressure salt sensitivity in male offspring rats is programmed by perinatal high-salt diet]
Bo Lu1, Jian-qun Yan, Jian Liu
1Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, Xi'an, China. lubo@mail.xjtu.edu.cn
Insights
A perinatal high-salt diet increased salt sensitivity in male rats, but not females. This may involve the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and stress hormones, indicating gender-specific programming.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular physiology
- Developmental programming
- Endocrinology
Context:
- Maternal diet during pregnancy influences offspring health.
- High-salt intake is a risk factor for hypertension.
- Perinatal programming effects can manifest later in life.
Purpose:
- To examine sex-specific effects of perinatal high-salt diet on offspring blood pressure and salt sensitivity.
- To investigate the underlying mechanisms involving the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and stress hormones.
Summary:
- Perinatal high-salt diet exposure in Sprague-Dawley rats did not alter adolescent blood pressure but significantly heightened salt sensitivity in males.
- Male offspring exhibited elevated serum angiotensin II and reduced corticotropin-releasing hormone and cortisol levels compared to controls.
- Female offspring did not show these significant changes, indicating a clear gender disparity.
Impact:
- Reveals critical sex differences in how early-life high-salt exposure programs cardiovascular regulation.
- Suggests potential therapeutic targets within the RAAS and stress response pathways for mitigating salt-induced hypertension.
- Highlights the importance of considering maternal dietary factors and offspring sex in hypertension prevention strategies.
Objective:
To investigate the gender differences in perinatal high-salt diet programming of blood pressure and salt sensitivity in offspring Sprague-Dawley rats and explore the mechanisms.
Methods:
The rats were fed with high-salt diet (8% NaCl) or normal salt diet (1% NaCl) during the perinatal period. Body weight changes were monitored, and blood pressure and heart rate were measured by non-invasive tail-cuff methods in both male and female offspring rats. The components of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in both the serum and brain tissue, and hormones related with stress reaction were detected using radioimmunology methods.
Results:
Perinatal high-salt diet did not affect adolescent blood pressure in both genders, but significantly increased salt sensitivity in male offspring rats. Perinatal high-salt diet also increased serum angiotensin II (ANG II) while decreased corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and cortisol in male offsprings, as compared with the normal salt diet group. No similar results were found in the female offspring rats.
Conclusion:
There is a significant gender difference in perinatal high-salt diet programming of offspring blood pressure salt sensitivity, and the mechanisms may involve the disturbance of the RAAS function and stress reaction.
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