title: Maternal low-protein diet induces changes in the cardiovascular autonomic modulation in male rat offspring.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Maternal undernutrition induces development of the arterial hypertension. We investigated the effects of a maternal low-protein diet on cardiovascular autonomic control in the offspring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups according to the diets of their mothers during gestation and lactation: the control (normal protein, NP, 17% casein; n = 14) and low-protein (LP, 8% casein; n = 14) groups. Direct measurements of arterial pressure (AP) were recorded from wakeful 90-day-old male offspring. The LP offspring presented higher mean AP than did the NP rats (NP: 93 ± 4 vs. LP: 113 ± 2 mmHg; p < 0.05), whereas the heart rate (HR) was similar in the two groups. In the spectral analysis, the LP group showed higher power at low (NP: 1.98 ± 0.25 vs. LP: 3.7 ± 0.3 mmHg²; p < 0.05) and high (NP: 1.28 ± 0.18 vs. LP: 2.13 ± 0.42 mmHg²; p < 0.05) frequencies of systolic arterial pressure (SAP). In the pulse interval, the LP group presented an increase in the LF/HF ratio (NP: 0.32 vs. LP: 0.56; p < 0.05). After propranolol (4 mg/kg, intravenous (iv)), the bradycardia was higher in the LP group (NP: -36 ± 8 vs. LP: -94 ± 12 bpm; p < 0.05), after methylatropine (2 mg/kg, iv), the tachycardia was similar to NP group. After administration of the ganglionic blocker (hexamethonium; 25 mg/kg, iv), the LP animals showed larger delta variation in the AP (NP: -33.7 ± 5 vs. LP: -53.6 ± 4 mmHg; p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rats subjected to protein malnutrition presented an increase in the cardiovascular sympathetic tone, which contributed to the elevated AP observed in these animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Academic Center of Vitoria (CAV), Federal University of Pernambuco, 55608-680, Brazil.
authors.forename: M A V
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Academic Center of Vitoria (CAV), Federal University of Pernambuco, 55608-680, Brazil.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: De Brito Alves
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Academic Center of Vitoria (CAV), Federal University of Pernambuco, 55608-680, Brazil.
authors.forename: V O
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Wanderley
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Academic Center of Vitoria (CAV), Federal University of Pernambuco, 55608-680, Brazil. Electronic address: joao.hcsilva@ufpe.br.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Costa-Silva
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000139:chemically induced; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D005730:Ganglionic Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D005730:Ganglionic Blockers; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D013565:Sympatholytics
keywords: Autonomic cardiovascular control; Developmental plasticity; Hypertension; Protein undernutrition