title: Administration of Cyclosporine A in Pregnant Rats - the Effect on Blood Pressure and on the Glomerular Number in Their Offspring.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cyclosporine A (CsA) is a commonly used immunosuppressive agent. In some patients treatment with CsA has to be continued during pregnancy. The aim of the study was to assess in an experimental model whether the exposure to CsA during fetal life influences the number and volume of glomeruli, kidney function and blood pressure in the offspring.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight pregnant female Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to 2 treatment regimens: with CsA or solvent. Blood pressure was measured in the offspring at 7 and 11 weeks of age and albuminuria was determined at 11 weeks of age. In the kidney the number and mean volume of glomeruli was assessed using stereological methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the offspring of pregnant rats treated with CsA the number of glomeruli was significantly lower and the mean volume of glomeruli was higher when compared to the offspring of pregnant rats receiving solvent. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures as well as albuminuria were significantly higher in the offspring of mothers treated with CsA during gestation compared to the offspring from the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure of rats to CsA during fetal life impairs kidney development, thus potentially predisposing to chronic kidney disease and hypertension in the adult life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Slabiak-Blaz
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adamczak
authors.forename: Nadezda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gut
authors.forename: Aniela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grajoszek
authors.forename: Jens R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Nyengaard
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ritz
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiecek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development; D008098:Litter Size / Q000187:drug effects; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine