Changes of blood pressure, abdominal visceral fat tissue and gene expressions in fetal programming induced rat model after amlodipine-losartan combination treatment

Intrauterine growth restriction combined with a maternal high-fat diet increased adiposity and serum corticosterone levels in adult rat offspring

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and fetal exposure to a maternal high-fat diet (HFD) independently increase the risk of developing obesity in adulthood. Excess glucocorticoids increase obesity. We hypothesized that surgically induced IUGR combined with an HFD would increase adiposity and glucocorticoids more than in non-IUGR offspring combined with the same HFD, findings that would persist despite weaning to a regular diet. Non-IUGR (N) and IUGR (I) rat offspring from dams fed either regular rat chow (R) or an HFD (H) were weaned to either a regular rat chow or an HFD. For non-IUGR and IUGR rats, this study design resulted in three diet groups: offspring from dams fed a regular diet and weaned to a regular diet (NRR and IRR), offspring rats from dams fed an HFD and weaned to a regular diet (NHR and IHR) and offspring from dams fed an HFD and weaned to an HFD (NHH and IHH). Magnetic resonance imaging or fasting visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue collection occurred at postnatal day 60. IHH male rats had greater adiposity than NHH males, findings that were only partly normalized by weaning to a regular chow. IHH male rats had a 10-fold increase in serum corticosterone levels. IHH female rats had increased adiposity and serum triglycerides. We conclude that IUGR combined with an HFD throughout life increased adiposity, glucocorticoids and triglycerides in a sex-specific manner. Our data suggest that one mechanism through which the perinatal environment programs increased adiposity in IHH male rats may be via increased systemic glucocorticoids.

Primary Pediatric Hypertension: Current Understanding and Emerging Concepts

The rising prevalence of primary pediatric hypertension and its tracking into adult hypertension point to the importance of determining its pathogenesis to gain insights into its current and emerging management. Considering that the intricate control of BP is governed by a myriad of anatomical, molecular biological, biochemical, and physiological systems, multiple genes are likely to influence an individual's BP and susceptibility to develop hypertension. The long-term regulation of BP rests on renal and non-renal mechanisms. One renal mechanism relates to sodium transport. The impaired renal sodium handling in primary hypertension and salt sensitivity may be caused by aberrant counter-regulatory natriuretic and anti-natriuretic pathways. The sympathetic nervous and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems are examples of antinatriuretic pathways. An important counter-regulatory natriuretic pathway is afforded by the renal autocrine/paracrine dopamine system, aberrations of which are involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension, including that associated with obesity. We present updates on the complex interactions of these two systems with dietary salt intake in relation to obesity, insulin resistance, inflammation, and oxidative stress. We review how insults during pregnancy such as maternal and paternal malnutrition, glucocorticoid exposure, infection, placental insufficiency, and treatments during the neonatal period have long-lasting effects in the regulation of renal function and BP. Moreover, these effects have sex differences. There is a need for early diagnosis, frequent monitoring, and timely management due to increasing evidence of premature target organ damage. Large controlled studies are needed to evaluate the long-term consequences of the treatment of elevated BP during childhood, especially to establish the validity of the current definition and treatment of pediatric hypertension.