Sex differences in antioxidant capacity contributes to hypertension in adult intrauterine growth restricted offspring

Abstract

Oxidative stress plays a more definitive role in mediating hypertension (HT) in males than in females. Intrauterine growth‐restriction (IUGR) programs HT in adult male IUGR offspring; yet, female IUGR offspring are normotensive. The mechanisms mediating sex differences in blood pressure in adult IUGR are not clear. Previously we reported that HT in male IUGR offspring (P<0.05) is associated with a marked increase in renal superoxide production (P<0.05). Chronic treatment with the antioxidant tempol has no effect on BP in male control offspring, but it normalizes BP (P<0.05) and renal superoxide production (P<0.05) in male IUGR. Renal superoxide production is not elevated in adult female IUGR offspring. This study tested the hypothesis that sex differences in renal antioxidant status contributes to differential programming of BP in adult IUGR offspring. Renal protein expression and activity of the antioxidants catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase and Cu‐Zn‐SOD did not differ in male control versus IUGR. However, renal CAT protein expression and activity were significantly elevated in female IUGR (P<0.05). Thus, these data suggest that compensatory up‐regulation of antioxidant capacity may contribute to normalization of BP in adult female IUGR and contribute to sex differences in HT programmed by IUGR. NIH HL074927 and HL51971, NIH 5P20MD002725‐05, 5P20RR016476‐11, 8P20GM103476‐11, NSF‐DBI‐0957421.