Enhanced nephrogenesis in offspring of water-restricted rat dams.
OBJECTIVE
Maternal water restriction (WR) may induce offspring plasma hypertonicity and enhanced vasopressin secretory responses. We determined effects of pregnancy WR on offspring body composition, renal morphology, and blood pressure.


METHODS
Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats (n = 21) were randomized to WR, pair-fed (PF), and control from embryo day (e) 10 to e21. Offspring body and organ weights and glomerular number and size were measured at birth and at 21 days of age. At 6 and 9 weeks, offspring blood pressure was determined.


RESULTS
At 21 days of age, WR offspring glomerular number was increased (17%; P < .05), whereas PF glomerular number was lower (4%), compared with controls. Systolic blood pressures were elevated in both WR and PF at both 6 and 9 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Pregnancy WR stimulates offspring nephrogenesis, suggesting an adaptive response to future dehydration. Programmed hypertension in WR and PF groups likely occurs via different mechanisms.
Mansano
Roy
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA. rmansano@obgyn.humc.edu
Desai
Mina
M
Garg
Ambica
A
Choi
Gyu Yeon
GY
Ross
Michael G
MG
D000818:Animals; D000855:Anorexia / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000196:embryology; D009929:Organ Size; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014868:Water Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000503:physiopathology