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When early life growth restriction in rats is followed by attenuated postnatal growth: effects on cardiac function in adulthood

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Abstract

Purpose

Epidemiological and experimental studies demonstrate that intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) followed by accelerated postnatal growth leads to increased risk of developing cardiac disease in adulthood. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of early life growth restriction on cardiac structure and function in young adult rats.

Methods

IUGR was induced in Wistar Kyoto dams through administration of a low protein diet (LPD; 8.7 % casein) during pregnancy and lactation; controls received a normal protein diet (NPD; 20 % casein). Cardiac function and structure were assessed in female NPD (n = 7) and LPD (n = 7) offspring at 18 weeks of age by echocardiography and pressure–volume techniques, and systolic blood pressure by tail–cuff sphygmomanometry.

Results

LPD offspring remained significantly smaller throughout life compared to controls. There were no differences in the levels of systolic blood pressure, left ventricular cardiac dimensions, heart rate, ejection fraction and fractional shortening of the cardiac muscle between the investigated groups. Aortic peak systolic velocity was significantly reduced in the LPD group (P = 0.02).

Conclusion

Our findings support the idea that the programming of adult cardiovascular disease can be prevented or delayed in IUGR offspring when postnatal growth trajectory resembles that of in utero.

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Acknowledgments

V. Zohdi was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Research Award whilst conducting this study. M. Kett was supported by a National Heart Foundation of Australia Career Development Fellowship (CRO7M3337).

Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia

    Vladislava Zohdi & M. Jane Black

  2. Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia

    James T. Pearson

  3. Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia

    James T. Pearson & Michelle M. Kett

  4. Department of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia

    Paul Lombardo & Michal Schneider

Authors
  1. Vladislava Zohdi
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  2. James T. Pearson
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  3. Michelle M. Kett
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  4. Paul Lombardo
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  5. Michal Schneider
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  6. M. Jane Black
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Correspondence to Vladislava Zohdi.

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Zohdi, V., Pearson, J.T., Kett, M.M. et al. When early life growth restriction in rats is followed by attenuated postnatal growth: effects on cardiac function in adulthood. Eur J Nutr 54, 743–750 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-014-0752-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-014-0752-6

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