Maternal nutrient restriction and the fetal left ventricle: decreased angiotensin receptor expression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Adequate maternal nutrition during gestation is requisite for fetal nutrition and development. While a large group of epidemiological studies indicate poor fetal nutrition increases heart disease risk and mortality in later life, little work has focused on the effects of impaired maternal nutrition on fetal heart development. We have previously shown that 50% global nutrient restriction from 28-78 days of gestation (early to mid-pregnancy; term = 147 days) in sheep at mid-gestation retards fetal growth while protecting growth of heart and results in hypertensive male offspring at nine months of age. In the present study, we evaluate LV gene transcription using RNA protection assay and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and protein expression using

SUBMITTER: Gilbert JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1187921 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature