PRE‐NATAL LOW PROTEIN DIET IN RATS EVOKES SEX‐DEPENDENT HYPERTENSION IN OFFSPRING

Abstract

Low birth weight is correlated with the development of hypertension later in life. A rat model that is used to study this relationship is reduced protein intake during gestation, which leads to hypertension in the offspring. Previous studies have used imprecise methods to measure blood pressure, such as tail‐cuff. To determine the effect of reduced protein intake during gestation upon blood pressure, 4 day pregnant Wistar dams were placed on an iso‐caloric 6% (low) or 18% (normal) protein diet until term. Male and female offspring (n=6‐8 rats/group) were implanted with a radiotelemetry device at 8 weeks of age to continuously monitor blood pressure in conscious, freely moving rats. At 10 weeks of age, systolic arterial pressure (SAP) was similar between both male groups (118±3 vs. 122±2 mmHg, 6% offspring vs. 18% offspring, respectively, P=NS). However, SAP was significantly elevated in the 6% female offspring compared with the 18% female offspring (117±2 vs. 106±3 mmHg, respectively, P<0.05). Thus, low protein during gestation evokes sex‐dependent hypertension in the offspring. That previous studies have reported hypertension in both sexes of low protein offspring suggest that these rats may have altered responses to stress, which accompanies tail‐cuff blood pressure measurements. Future studies are warranted to determine if low protein offspring have alterations in reflex control of the cardiovascular system.