EFFECTS OF EARLY NUTRITIONAL INTERVENTION ON BODY WEIGHT, BLOOD PRESSURE AND CARDIAC TISSUE

摘要

Background: Nutrition in early life can influence subsequent risk of obesity, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Neuro-endocrine alterations in obesity may influence both feeding patterns and blood pressure. Fibrosis is an important component of vascular remodeling and has previously been observed in models of hypertension. It is not clear the effects nutrition may have on the development of cardiac fibrosis.Aim: To examine the impact of early postnatal overnutrition and undernutrition on blood pressure, fibrotic changes in the heart and adiposity signals.Methods: Rat litters were adjusted to 3, 12 or 18 male pups (overnutrition, control and undernutrition respectively) on day 1 of life and followed to weaning (24 days) or 16 weeks. Animals were killed by decapitation following anesthetic overdose. Blood pressure ,was measured by tail cuff and immunohistochemistry for collagen and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the left ventricle determined effects on cardiac fibrosis.