Pregnancy is associated with increases in maternal cardiac output and plasma volume and a reduction in peripheral vascular resistance. Cardiac output and plasma volume are substantially reduced in pregnant rats fed a low-protein diet, but it is not known whether vascular function is also compromised. We have investigated vascular function in virgin and pregnant Wistar rats subjected to dietary protein restriction [9% (w/v) casein, compared with 18% (w/v) casein for controls]. The diets were fed to the groups for 18 days; in the pregnant rats, the diets were given from day 1 of pregnancy. Branches of the mesenteric arteries were studied on day 18 of the dietary period using myography. Significant reductions in sensitivity to acetylcholine occurred in vessels from virgin (P = 0.04) and pregnant (P = 0.01) rats that had consumed the 9% casein diet. In arteries from the virgin rats on the restricted diet there was also a significant reduction in sensitivity (P = 0.0003) and maximum relaxation (P = 0.009) to the NO donor spermine NONOate. Mean placental and fetal weights were significantly lower in the rats fed on 9% casein (P<0.0001 and P = 0.005 respectively). Thus low-protein diets impair vasodilator responses in female rats. These effects may contribute to the poor cardiovascular adaptation to pregnancy and lower fetal weights associated with restricted protein intake.
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April 18 2002
Low-protein diet impairs vascular relaxation in virgin and pregnant rats
Angeliki KOUMENTAKI;
Angeliki KOUMENTAKI
*Fetal Origins of Adult Disease Research Division, University of Southampton, Obstetrics & Gynaecology (815), Level F, Princess Anne Hospital, Coxford Road, Southampton SO16 5YA, U.K.
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Frederick ANTHONY;
Frederick ANTHONY
*Fetal Origins of Adult Disease Research Division, University of Southampton, Obstetrics & Gynaecology (815), Level F, Princess Anne Hospital, Coxford Road, Southampton SO16 5YA, U.K.
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Lucilla POSTON;
Lucilla POSTON
†Fetal Health Research Group, St. Thomas’ Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7EH, U.K.
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Timothy WHEELER
*Fetal Origins of Adult Disease Research Division, University of Southampton, Obstetrics & Gynaecology (815), Level F, Princess Anne Hospital, Coxford Road, Southampton SO16 5YA, U.K.
Correspondence: Dr Timothy Wheeler (e-mail [email protected]).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Accepted:
February 08 2001
Received:
August 24 2001
Revision Received:
November 15 2001
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
The Biochemical Society and the Medical Research Society © 2002
2002
Clin Sci (Lond) (2002) 102 (5): 553–560.
Article history
Accepted:
February 08 2001
Received:
August 24 2001
Revision Received:
November 15 2001
Citation
Angeliki KOUMENTAKI, Frederick ANTHONY, Lucilla POSTON, Timothy WHEELER; Low-protein diet impairs vascular relaxation in virgin and pregnant rats. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 May 2002; 102 (5): 553–560. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/cs1020553
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