Restricted nutrition-induced low birth weight, low number of nephrons and glomerular mesangium injury in Japanese quail.
Insufficient nutrition during the perinatal period causes structural alterations in humans and experimental animals, leading to increased vulnerability to diseases in later life. Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica, in which partial (8-10%) egg white was withdrawn (EwW) from eggs before incubation had lower birth weights than controls (CTs). EwW birds also had reduced hatching rates, smaller glomeruli and lower embryo weight. In EwW embryos, the surface condensate area containing mesenchymal cells was larger, suggesting that delayed but active nephrogenesis takes place. In mature EwW quail, the number of glomeruli in the cortical region (mm2) was significantly lower (CT 34.7±1.4, EwW 21.0±1.2); capillary loops showed focal ballooning, and mesangial areas were distinctly expanded. Immunoreactive cell junction proteins, N-cadherin and podocin, and slit diaphragms were clearly seen. With aging, the mesangial area and glomerular size continued to increase and were significantly larger in EwW quail, suggesting compensatory hypertrophy. Furthermore, apoptosis measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling analysis was higher in EwWs than in CTs on embryonic day 15 and postnatal day 4 (D4). Similarly, plasma glucocorticoid (corticosterone) was higher (P<0.01) on D4 in EwW quail. These results suggest that although nephrogenic activity is high in low-nutrition quail during the perinatal period, delayed development and increased apoptosis may result in a lower number of mature nephrons. Damaged or incompletely mature mesangium may trigger glomerular injury, leading in later life to nephrosclerosis. The present study shows that birds serve as a model for 'fetal programming,' which appears to have evolved phylogenetically early.
1Department of Physiology,University of Tennessee Health Science Center,Memphis,TN,USA.
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Nishimura
2Institute of Nephrology and Department of Physiology,Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences,Niigata,Japan.
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Yaoita
2Institute of Nephrology and Department of Physiology,Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences,Niigata,Japan.
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Nameta
3Department of Physiology,Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences,Niigata,Japan.
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Yamaguchi
4Department of Medicine,Kawasaki Medical School,Okayama,Japan.
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Sato
4Department of Medicine,Kawasaki Medical School,Okayama,Japan.
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Ihoriya
2Institute of Nephrology and Department of Physiology,Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences,Niigata,Japan.
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Zhao
2Institute of Nephrology and Department of Physiology,Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences,Niigata,Japan.
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Kawachi
4Department of Medicine,Kawasaki Medical School,Okayama,Japan.
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Sasaki
5Department of Pediatrics,Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Hospital,Niigata,Japan.
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Ikezumi
6Department of Geriatric Medicine,Graduate School of Medicine,University of Tokyo,Tokyo,Japan.
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Ouchi
4Department of Medicine,Kawasaki Medical School,Okayama,Japan.
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Kashihara
2Institute of Nephrology and Department of Physiology,Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences,Niigata,Japan.
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Yamamoto
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D003370:Coturnix; D015387:Egg Proteins, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005920:Glomerular Mesangium / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D009399:Nephrons / Q000473:pathology; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D008297:Male
D015387:Egg Proteins, Dietary
avian kidney; fetal programming; glomerular mesangium injury; low birth weight; nephrosclerosis