Maternal high-salt intake induces sex-specific liver injury in offspring: integrative transcriptomic and therapeutic investigation.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Maternal diet is a key determinant of fetal organ development, and excessive salt intake has been increasingly linked to long-term metabolic disorders. This study investigated the effects of maternal high-salt diet (HSD) on offspring liver health, with a focus on sex-specific structural and molecular alterations.

Methods

Pregnant C57BL/6J mice were fed either standard chow or an HSD (4% NaCl) during gestation and lactation. At 4 weeks of age, offspring livers were analyzed using histology, RNA sequencing, immunofluorescence, and biochemical assays. Connectivity Map (CMap) was applied to identify candidate therapeutic compounds.

Results

Maternal HSD significantly increased liver weight and hepatocyte size in offspring, with more pronounced effects in males

SUBMITTER: Chen X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12479328 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature