Combined prenatal and postnatal protein restriction influences adult kidney structure, function, and arterial pressure

The effects of prenatal protein restriction on adult renal and cardiovascular function have been studied in considerable detail. However, little is known about the effects of life-long protein restriction, a common condition in the developing world. Therefore, we determined in rats the effects of combined pre-and postnatal protein restriction on adult arterial pressure and renal function and responses to increased dietary sodium. Nephron number was also determined. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were born to mothers fed a low [8% (wt/wt), LP] or normal [20% (wt/wt), NP] isocaloric protein diet throughout pregnancy and maintained on these diets after birth. At postnatal day 135, nephron number, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and renal function were determined. A high-NaCl [8.0% (wt/wt), high- salt] diet was fed to a subset of rats from weaning. MAP was less in LP than in NP rats (120 +/- 2 vs. 128 +/- 2 mmHg, P < 0.05) and was not significantly altered by increased salt intake. Nephron number was 31% less in LP than in NP rats (P < 0.001). The volume of individual glomeruli was also less in LP than in NP rats, as were calculated effective renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate. Glomerular filtration rate, but not effective renal plasma flow, appeared to be increased by high salt intake, particularly in LP rats. In conclusion, protein restriction induced a severe nephron deficit, but MAP was lower, rather than higher, in protein- restricted than in control rats in adulthood. These findings indicate that the postnatal environment plays a key role in determining the outcomes of developmental programming.