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Maternal low-protein diet induces changes in the cardiovascular autonomic modulation in male rat offspring
M A V Barros1, J L De Brito Alves1, V O Nogueira1
1Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Academic Center of Vitoria (CAV), Federal University of Pernambuco, 55608-680, Brazil.
Insights
Maternal protein malnutrition in rats leads to higher arterial pressure in offspring due to increased sympathetic nervous system activity. This study highlights the long-term cardiovascular consequences of developmental nutrition.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Developmental Programming
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Maternal undernutrition is linked to arterial hypertension in offspring.
- The impact of maternal low-protein diet on offspring's cardiovascular autonomic control requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a maternal low-protein diet on cardiovascular autonomic control in male Wistar rat offspring.
Main Methods:
- Male Wistar rats were fed either a normal protein (NP) or low-protein (LP) diet during gestation and lactation.
- Arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR) were measured in 90-day-old offspring.
- Autonomic control was assessed using spectral analysis and pharmacological blockade (propranolol, methylatropine, hexamethonium).
Main Results:
- LP offspring exhibited significantly higher mean AP compared to NP offspring.
- Spectral analysis revealed altered sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation in LP offspring.
- Pharmacological blockade indicated increased sympathetic tone and baroreflex sensitivity in LP offspring.
Conclusions:
- Maternal protein malnutrition programs offspring for elevated arterial pressure.
- Increased cardiovascular sympathetic tone plays a crucial role in the hypertension observed in LP offspring.
- Developmental nutrition significantly influences long-term cardiovascular autonomic regulation.
Background And Aims:
Maternal undernutrition induces development of the arterial hypertension. We investigated the effects of a maternal low-protein diet on cardiovascular autonomic control in the offspring.
Methods And Results:
Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups according to the diets of their mothers during gestation and lactation: the control (normal protein, NP, 17% casein; n = 14) and low-protein (LP, 8% casein; n = 14) groups. Direct measurements of arterial pressure (AP) were recorded from wakeful 90-day-old male offspring. The LP offspring presented higher mean AP than did the NP rats (NP: 93 ± 4 vs. LP: 113 ± 2 mmHg; p < 0.05), whereas the heart rate (HR) was similar in the two groups. In the spectral analysis, the LP group showed higher power at low (NP: 1.98 ± 0.25 vs. LP: 3.7 ± 0.3 mmHg²; p < 0.05) and high (NP: 1.28 ± 0.18 vs. LP: 2.13 ± 0.42 mmHg²; p < 0.05) frequencies of systolic arterial pressure (SAP). In the pulse interval, the LP group presented an increase in the LF/HF ratio (NP: 0.32 vs. LP: 0.56; p < 0.05). After propranolol (4 mg/kg, intravenous (iv)), the bradycardia was higher in the LP group (NP: -36 ± 8 vs. LP: -94 ± 12 bpm; p < 0.05), after methylatropine (2 mg/kg, iv), the tachycardia was similar to NP group. After administration of the ganglionic blocker (hexamethonium; 25 mg/kg, iv), the LP animals showed larger delta variation in the AP (NP: -33.7 ± 5 vs. LP: -53.6 ± 4 mmHg; p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
The rats subjected to protein malnutrition presented an increase in the cardiovascular sympathetic tone, which contributed to the elevated AP observed in these animals.
