title: High and Low Salt Intake during Pregnancy: Impact on Cardiac and Renal Structure in Newborns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated that dietary salt overload and salt restriction during pregnancy were associated with cardiac and renal structural and/or functional alterations in adult offspring. The present study evaluated renal and cardiac structure and the local renin-angiotensin system in newborns from dams fed high-, normal- or low-salt diets during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female Wistar rats were fed low- (LS, 0.15% NaCl), normal- (NS, 1.3% NaCl) or high- (HS, 8% NaCl) salt diets during pregnancy. Kidneys and hearts were collected from newborns (n = 6-8/group) during the first 24 hours after birth to evaluate possible changes in structure using stereology. Protein expression of renin-angiotensin system components was evaluated using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences between groups were observed in total renal volume, volume of renal compartments or number of glomeruli. The transverse diameter of the nuclei of cardiomyocytes was greater in HS than NS males in the left and right ventricles. Protein expression of the AT1 receptor was lower in the kidneys of the LS than in those of the NS and HS males but not females. Protein expression of the AT2 receptor was lower in the kidneys of the LS males and females than in those of the NS males and females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High salt intake during pregnancy induced left and right ventricular hypertrophy in male newborns. Salt restriction during pregnancy reduced the expression of renal angiotensin II receptors in newborns.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Priscila
authors: P
authors: Seravalli
authors: Department of Internal Medicine of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Ivone Braga
authors: IB
authors: de Oliveira
authors: Department of Internal Medicine of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Breno Calazans
authors: BC
authors: Zago
authors: Department of Internal Medicine of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Isac
authors: I
authors: de Castro
authors: Department of Internal Medicine of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Mariana Matera
authors: MM
authors: Veras
authors: Department of Internal Medicine of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Edson Nogueira
authors: EN
authors: Alves-Rodrigues
authors: Department of Internal Medicine of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Joel C
authors: JC
authors: Heimann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D017380:Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular; D007668:Kidney / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012083:Renin / Q000378:metabolism; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry*; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D012083:Renin