In utero undernutrition in rats induces increased vascular smooth muscle content in the offspring.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that undernutrition in utero alters the structure of conduit and resistance vessels early in development.


METHODS
We studied a rodent model in which dams were 50% food restricted from day 10 of gestation to term. Vascular smooth muscle content and vascular caliber in the offspring were examined by quantitative histologic methods and by Western blot analysis.


RESULTS
Maternal food restriction induced a significant increase in the smooth muscle content of 1-day- and 2-month-old offspring aortas and mesenteric arterioles of different luminal diameters. Histologic data were confirmed by Western blot analysis that showed greater expression of smooth muscle alpha-actin in 1-day-old food restriction aortas. The increase in vascular smooth muscle in the aortas was determined to be the result of cellular hypertrophy.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that the vascular smooth muscle is altered in food-restriction offspring and that this may be a mechanism for the programming of offspring hypertension.
Khorram
Omid
O
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA. okhorram@obgyn.humc.edu
Momeni
Mazdak
M
Ferrini
Monica
M
Desai
Mina
M
Ross
Michael G
MG
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D001160:Arterioles / Q000473:pathology; D004032:Diet; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D048070:Fetal Nutrition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications*; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology