Effects of pre- and periconceptional undernutrition on arterial function in adult female sheep are vascular bed dependent.
The nutritional environment during development and even prior to conception may contribute to cardiovascular risk. In mature adult female sheep, we investigated the effect of preconceptional and periconceptional maternal nutritional restriction on the vascular reactivity of arteries from four vascular beds supplying the heart, thorax, kidney and hindlimb. Welsh Mountain ewes received 100% of nutrient requirements throughout gestation (control group, C, n = 18), or 50% of nutrient requirements for 30 days prior to conception (preconceptional group, PRE, n = 20) or for 15 days either side of conception (periconceptional group, PERI, n = 31) and 100% thereafter. In 3.5-year-old female offspring, the left anterior descending coronary (LAD), left internal thoracic (LITA), right renal and second and third order femoral arteries were dissected and their reactivity was assessed by organ bath or wire myography. Vasoconstrictor responses were greater in both LAD and LITA from PERI offspring compared with C (P < 0.01), while vasoconstriction was unaffected by maternal diet in arteries from the renal and femoral circulations (P = n.s.). Endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilatation was attenuated in third order femoral arteries of PRE and PERI groups compared with C (P < 0.05). Endothelium-independent vasodilatation was attenuated in both the LAD and renal arteries in the PERI group compared with C (P < 0.05). These data show that moderate maternal undernutrition either prior to or around conception affects vascular function of adult offspring. The effect depends on the timing of the insult, but also on the vascular bed studied and vessel hierarchy in the vascular tree.
Torrens
Christopher
C
Institute of Developmental Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK. c.torrens@southampton.ac.uk
Snelling
Tristram H
TH
Chau
Ryan
R
Shanmuganathan
Meena
M
Cleal
Jane K
JK
Poore
Kirsten R
KR
Noakes
David E
DE
Poston
Lucilla
L
Hanson
Mark A
MA
Green
Lucy R
LR
D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012756:Sheep; D013997:Time Factors; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology