title: Temporal alterations in vascular angiotensin receptors and vasomotor responses in offspring of protein-restricted rat dams.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Examine temporal alterations in vascular angiotensin II receptors (AT(1)R and AT(2)R) and determine vascular response to angiotensin II in growth-restricted offspring.
  
  
  METHODS
  Offspring of pregnant rats fed low-protein (6%) and control (20%) diet were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prenatal protein restriction reprogrammed AT(1a)R messenger RNA expression in male rats' mesenteric arteries to cause 1.7- and 2.3-fold increases at 3 and 6 months of age associated with arterial pressure increases of 10 and 33 mm Hg, respectively; however, in female rats, increased AT(1a)R expression (2-fold) and arterial pressure (15 mm Hg) occurred only at 6 months. Prenatal protein restriction did not affect AT(2)R expression. Losartan abolished hypertension, suggesting that AT(1a)R plays a primary role in arterial pressure elevation. Vasoconstriction to angiotensin II was exaggerated in all protein-restricted offspring, with greater potency and efficacy in male rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prenatal protein restriction increased vascular AT(1)R expression and vasoconstriction to angiotensin II, possibly contributing to programmed hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1062, USA.
authors.forename: Kunju
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sathishkumar
authors.forename: Meena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balakrishnan
authors.forename: Vijayakumar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chinnathambi
authors.forename: Haijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Chandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yallampalli
mesh_terms: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D019808:Losartan / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012737:Sex Factors; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C544067:Agtr1a protein, rat; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D015415:Biomarkers; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2; D019808:Losartan