Protein restriction in pregnant- and lactating rats-induced oxidative stress and hypohomocysteinaemia in their offspring

Hyperhomocyteinaemia has been associated with pathological and stressful conditions and considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Maternal protein restriction during late pregnancy and postnatal period is a stressful state to their offspring which is associated with disruption of various physiological processes. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of maternal protein restriction during late pregnancy and early postnatal periods on systemic oxidative stress parameters and on homocysteine metabolism of their offspring. For this purpose, 12 female rats were divided into two groups: a control group (C) with free access to standard diet (20% protein) and a protein restricted group (PR) with free access to a low protein diet (7% protein) from the day 14 of pregnancy until day 14 after delivery. An increase of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance levels (TBARS) in plasma (+40%, p < 0.01) and in liver (+37%, p < 0.001) with a concomitant decrease in the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) observed in undernourished pups suggest the possibility of oxidative stress. Moreover, no significant changes in total glutathione levels (tGSH) were also observed to be associated with a significant decrease in homocysteine concentrations (-35%; p < 0.001). In their mothers, an alteration of antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT and SOD) and slight increase of TBARS levels were observed. Whereas homocysteine and tGSH levels were unchanged in comparison with those fed ad libitum. These results suggested that PR diet given to mothers during late pregnancy and early postnatal periods induced oxidative stress and hypohomocysteinaemia in their offspring.