Overweight, hypertension and renal dysfunction in adulthood of neonatally overfed rats

Area of Science:

• Developmental biology
• Nephrology
• Metabolic research

Background:

• Accelerated infant growth is linked to later cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
• Neonatal overnutrition is a potential risk factor for long-term health issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of early postnatal overnutrition on renal pathophysiological changes in adult offspring rats.
• To determine the long-term effects of litter size manipulation on kidney function and structure.

Main Methods:

• Male rat pups were assigned to small litter (SL) or normal litter (NL) groups for the first 21 days.
• Evaluated body weight, blood pressure, serum creatinine, and renal changes at 3 and 6 months.
• Utilized immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting to assess macrophage infiltration, glomerulosclerosis, apoptosis, and protein expression (MMP-9, TNF-α, osteopontin, adiponectin).

Main Results:

• SL offspring exhibited higher body weight, elevated serum creatinine, and increased blood pressure compared to NL controls.
• Increased macrophage infiltration (ED-1 positive) and glomerulosclerosis were observed in the renal cortex of SL rats.
• Apoptotic cells in the renal cortex and altered expression of MMP-9, osteopontin, and other inflammatory markers were noted in SL rats.

Conclusions:

• Early postnatal overfeeding in rats results in lasting overweight, hypertension, and renal dysfunction.
• Neonatal overnutrition imposes a significant long-term burden on kidney health.
• Findings highlight the critical role of early nutrition in preventing chronic kidney disease and metabolic disorders.