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Increased renal sympathetic nerve activity leads to hypertension and renal dysfunction in offspring from diabetic

Aline Fernanda de Almeida Chaves Rodrigues1, Ingrid Lauren Brites de Lima, Cássia Toledo Bergamaschi

  • 1Disciplina Fisiologia Renal e Termometabologia, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.

American Journal of Physiology. Renal Physiology
|November 9, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Maternal diabetes in rats leads to hypertension and kidney dysfunction in offspring, with renal nerves playing a key role in these conditions. Denervation normalized blood pressure and improved kidney function, highlighting the importance of renal sympathetic nerve activity.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Endocrinology
  • Cardiovascular Physiology

Background:

  • Maternal hyperglycemia during gestation is linked to offspring hypertension and renal dysfunction.
  • The specific contribution of renal nerves to these developmental origins of disease is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of renal nerves in hypertension and renal dysfunction in offspring of diabetic rats.
  • To assess the impact of maternal diabetes on renal sympathetic nerve activity and baroreceptor function in offspring.

Main Methods:

  • Diabetes was induced in female Wistar rats using streptozotocin before mating.
  • Male offspring were studied at 3 months of age, with measurements of systolic blood pressure, renal function, and renal sympathetic nerve activity (rSNA).
  • Renal denervation was performed in a subset of offspring from diabetic dams to evaluate its effects.

Main Results:

  • Offspring from diabetic dams exhibited elevated systolic blood pressure, impaired renal function (reduced GFR, fractional sodium excretion, and urine flow), and increased basal rSNA.
  • Baroreceptor control of rSNA was impaired in offspring of diabetic dams.
  • Renal denervation normalized blood pressure and improved renal function in offspring from diabetic dams.

Conclusions:

  • Renal nerves are critically involved in the development of hypertension and renal dysfunction in offspring exposed to a hyperglycemic intrauterine environment.
  • Impaired baroreceptor function and increased renal sympathetic nerve activity contribute to the pathophysiology.
  • Targeting renal nerves may offer a therapeutic strategy for preventing or treating hypertension in offspring of diabetic mothers.

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