Intrauterine growth restriction induces a greater susceptibility to hypertension and metabolic dysfunction with aging in female growth‐restricted rats

Abstract

Female intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) rats exhibit an increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) prior to puberty; however, MAP is normalized after passage through puberty and into early adulthood. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that aging and loss of ovarian hormone status as observed in menopause leads to an increased risk of chronic disease in female IUGR. Four groups of female SD rats were studied: intact control, intact IUGR, OVX (ovariectomy at 10 weeks of age) control and OVX IUGR. MAP measured by direct arterial catheter did not differ at 6 months of age. However, by 12 months of age MAP was significantly elevated in intact IUGR relative to intact control (117±4 vs. 137±3 mmHg, P<0.01); MAP was elevated to a similar degree in OVX IUGR and OVX control (P<0.05). Marked elevations in plasma leptin and adiponectin were associated with an impaired oral glucose intolerance test (OGTT) at 12 months of age in intact IUGR, OVX IUGR and OVX control (P<0.05 vs. intact control). Body weight did not differ between control or IUGR within intact or OVX groups at 12 months of age; yet, fat mass was significantly increased and lean mass was significantly decreased in intact IUGR vs. intact control (P<0.05). Thus, these data suggest that aging alone is sufficient to induce chronic disease in adult female IUGR, whereas loss of ovarian hormones is necessitated in the presence of aging in female control. HL074927; HL51971