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Prenatal exposure to maternal undernutrition induces adult cardiac dysfunction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2007

Kuljeet K. Cheema ,
Melissa R. Dent ,
Harjot K. Saini ,
Nina Aroutiounova  and
Paramjit S. Tappia
Kuljeet K. Cheema
Affiliation:
Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre & Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, 351 Tache Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R2H 2A6
Melissa R. Dent
Affiliation:
Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre & Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, 351 Tache Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R2H 2A6 Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre & Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, 351 Tache Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R2H 2A6
Harjot K. Saini
Affiliation:
Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre & Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, 351 Tache Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R2H 2A6
Nina Aroutiounova
Affiliation:
Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre & Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, 351 Tache Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R2H 2A6
Paramjit S. Tappia*
Affiliation:
Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre & Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, 351 Tache Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R2H 2A6
*
*Corresponding author: IDr Paramjit S. Tappia, fax +1 204 233 6723, email ptappia@sbrc.ca
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Abstract

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An adverse environmental experience of the growing fetus may lead to permanent changes in the structure and function of organs that may predispose the individual to chronic diseases in later life; however, nothing is known about the occurrence and mechanisms of heart failure. We employed a rat model in which pregnant dams were fed diets containing either 180 g (normal) or 90 g (low) casein/kg for 2 weeks before mating and throughout pregnancy. The ejection fraction (EF) of the pups exposed to the low-protein (LP) diet was severely depressed in the first 2 weeks of life and was associated with an increase in cardiomyocyte apoptosis. This early depressed cardiac function was followed by progressive recovery and normalization of the EF of the offspring in the LP group. The left ventricular (LV) internal diameters were increased between 24 h and 84 d (12 weeks) of age in the LP-exposed group. Although between 3 d and 2 weeks of age the LV wall of the heart in the LP group was thinner, a progressive increase in LV wall thickness was seen. At 40 weeks of age, although the EF was normal, a two-fold elevation in LV end-diastolic pressure, reduced cardiac output, decreased maximum rates of contraction and relaxation, and reduced mean arterial pressure were observed. Our findings demonstrate that exposure of the developing fetus to a maternal LP diet programs cardiac dysfunction in the offspring in later life.

Keywords

Low-protein dietCardiomyocyte apoptosisCardiac hypertrophyHeart dysfunction
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 93 , Issue 4 , April 2005 , pp. 471 - 477
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2005

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