ARTERIAL PRESSURE AND RENAL FUNCTION FOLLOWING LIFE-LONG EXPOSURE TO A LOW PROTEIN ENVIRONMENT IN RATS

摘要

Background: Limitation of maternal nutrient supply is known to alter fetal development and confer a greater risk of adult disease. A low protein diet, administered to rats solely in utero, is commonly associated with nephron deficit and adult hypertension. The nephron deficit in this model has been proposed to play a major role in the associated hypertension and decline in renal function. This is based on the concept that a reduced glomerular filtration surface area limits urinary sodium excretion, leading ultimately to elevated arterial pressure. However, in many parts of the developing world, protein deficiency is a life-long condition. Yet surprisingly, animal models of life-long protein restriction have been little studied. Aim: To determine the effects of life-long protein restriction on adult arterial pressure and renal function.