title: Effect of low birth weight on impaired renal development and function and hypertension in rat model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epidemiological studies have shown that low birth weight (LBW) is associated with a higher incidence of hypertension in adulthood. LBW may affect the kidney development, which in turn leads to impaired renal function and hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sprague-Dawley rats were fed isocaloric diets containing either 21% (w/w) (control group) or 10% (w/w) (LBW group) protein throughout pregnancy and chow during lactation. Renal function and structure of the offspring were measured from birth to 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 3 weeks and 2 months, there was no difference in the volume of 24 h urine protein between the two groups. However, the volume was higher (117.17 ± 10.40 vs. 79.28 ± 14.26, p < 0.01) in LBW group at 3 months. Maternal protein intake did not alter serum creatinine in this study, but urine creatinine was lower in LBW group at 2 and 3 months. The creatinine clearance rate (Ccr) was significantly lower in LBW group than in control group at all time points. Glomerular number was reduced significantly in LBW group (22,720 ± 639 vs. 28,520 ± 526, p < 0.01) at 2 months, which was accompanied by an increase in blood pressure. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the blood pressure and the glomerular number at 2 months (r = -0.919, p = 0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data showed that abnormal kidney development and renal dysfunction occurred in LBW rats due to a maternal low-protein diet. Possessing a decreased glomerular number might be a risk factor for hypertension in LBW rats.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pediatrics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, PR China. xiezd9099@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Zongde
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Qingyi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Jianfang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Pingyang
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jintao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001724:Birth Weight; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000254:growth & development*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014554:Urination
chemical_list: D003404:Creatinine