Folate Supplementation During Pregnancy Improves Offspring Cardiovascular Dysfunction Induced by Protein Restriction

• DOI: 10.1161/01.hyp.0000215580.43711.d1
• Publication Date: 2006-04-04T00:34:23Z
• Authors: Christopher Torrens; Lee Brawley; Frederick W. Anthony; Caroline S. Dance; Rebecca Dunn; Alan A. Jackson; Lucilla Poston; Mark A. Hanson
• Keywords: Male; 0301 basic medicine; 2. Zero hunger; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; 610; Blood Pressure; Rats; 3. Good health; Vasodilation; 03 medical and health sciences; Folic Acid; Animals, Newborn; Cardiovascular Diseases; Pregnancy; Vitamin B Complex; Diet, Protein-Restricted; Animals; Female; Endothelium, Vascular; Rats, Wistar

Dietary protein restriction in the rat compromises maternal cardiovascular adaptations to pregnancy and leads raised blood pressure endothelial dysfunction offspring. In this study we have hypothesized that dietary folate supplementation of low-protein diet will improve vascular function also restore offspring function. Pregnant Wistar rats were fed either a control (18% casein) or protein-restricted (9% +/-5 mg/kg supplement. Function isolated uterine artery small mesenteric arteries from adult male was assessed, systolic recorded, thoracic aorta levels nitric oxide (NO) synthase mRNA measured. late dams, vasodilatation growth factor attenuated group but restored with supplementation, as isoprenaline-induced (P<0.05). offspring, during led (P<0.01), impaired acetylcholine-induced reduced NO Maternal prevented elevated associated diet. With endothelium-dependent not significantly different groups. had no effect on vasodilatation. This supports hypothesis status can influence fetal development and, thus, risks disease next generation. The concept developmental origins focuses predominately life must include role for