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Functional and morphometric evaluation of offspring kidney after intrauterine undernutrition
S R Lucas1, V L Costa Silva, S M Miraglia
1Departamento de Fisiologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
Insights
Severe food restriction during pregnancy in rats led to fewer glomeruli in offspring, persisting into adulthood. This intrauterine undernutrition model suggests impaired kidney development and glomerular hypertrophy.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Developmental Biology
- Reproductive Medicine
Background:
- Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is linked to long-term health issues.
- Kidney development is sensitive to nutritional status during gestation.
- Understanding the impact of maternal nutrition on offspring kidney development is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of intrauterine food restriction on offspring kidney morphometry and function.
- To determine if reduced glomerular number and altered kidney structure persist postnatally.
- To explore the potential for glomerular hypertrophy as a compensatory mechanism.
Main Methods:
- Pregnant rats underwent 50% food restriction during specific periods of gestation.
- Kidney morphometry (glomerular number and diameter) and function were assessed in newborn and adult offspring.
- Medulla/cortex ratio, sodium excretion, acid excretion, and water/osmolar clearance were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Reduced glomerular number was observed in both newborn and adult offspring of food-restricted mothers.
- Glomerular diameter increased in adult offspring, suggesting hypertrophic stimuli.
- The medulla/cortex ratio increased in adult offspring, with preserved kidney function markers.
Conclusions:
- Severe intrauterine food restriction significantly reduces glomerular number in offspring, an effect that persists for at least 3 months.
- This reduction in glomerular number suggests impaired glomerulogenesis, even after birth.
- Intrauterine undernutrition serves as a model for studying glomerular hypertrophy and its consequences on kidney development.
Abstract:
Pregnant rats were subjected to 50% food restriction during the first or the second half of pregnancy, or throughout pregnancy. The effects of intrauterine food restriction, on kidney function and morphometry were studied in newborn and adult (3 months) offspring. No differences in glomerular diameter were observed in newborn restricted rats compared with controls. The number of glomeruli was significantly lower both in newborn and 3-month-old restricted rats. However, glomerular diameter was increased in 3-month-old rats, which suggests that hypertrophic stimuli were present. The medulla/cortex ratio increased in adult rats submitted to food restriction during pregnancy, a finding that agrees with the preserved sodium and acid excretion, and the normal osmolar and free water clearance observed in these groups. These results show that the reduction in glomerular number is still present 3 months after birth in the progeny of mothers submitted to severe food restriction during pregnancy, suggesting impairment of glomerulogenesis even after birth. Intra utero undernutrition can be regarded as an experimental model of glomerular hypertrophy.