title: Fetal kidney programming by severe food restriction: effects on structure, hormonal receptor expression and urinary sodium excretion in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study investigates, in 23-day-old and adult male rats, the effect of severe food restriction in utero on blood pressure (BP), and its association with nephron structure and function changes, angiotensin II (AT1R/AT2R), glucocorticoid (GR) and mineralocorticoid (MR) receptor expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  The daily food supply to pregnant rats was measured and one group (n=15) received normal quantity of food (NF) while the other received 50% of that (FR50%) (n=15). Kidneys were processed to AT1R, AT2R, MR, and GR immunolocalization and for western blotting analysis. The renal function was estimated by creatinine and lithium clearances in 12-week-old offspring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By stereological analyses, FR50% offspring present a reduction of nephron numbers (35%) with unchanged renal volume. Expression of AT1R and AT2R was significantly decreased in FR50% while the expression of GR and MR increased in FR50%. We also verified a pronounced decrease in urinary sodium excretion accompanied by increased BP in 12-week-old FR50% offspring.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current data suggest that changes in renal function are conducive to excess sodium tubule reabsorption, and this might potentiate the programming of adult hypertension. It is plausible to arise in the current study an association between decreasing natriuresis, reciprocal changes in renal AngII and steroid receptors with the hypertension development found in FR50% compared with age-matched NF offspring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vaccari
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine School of Medicine, State University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flavia F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Mesquita
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine School of Medicine, State University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jose A R
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gontijo
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, Brazil alineboer@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Boer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001724:Birth Weight; D001794:Blood Pressure; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005333:Fetus; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012964:Sodium / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D012964:Sodium; D003404:Creatinine
keywords: Fetal programming; arterial hypertension; renal function; severe food restriction