The effect of maternal undernutrition on the rat placental transcriptome: protein restriction up-regulates cholesterol transport.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Fetal exposure to a maternal low protein diet during rat pregnancy is associated with hypertension, renal dysfunction and metabolic disturbance in adult life. These effects are present when dietary manipulations target only the first half of pregnancy. It was hypothesised that early gestation protein restriction would impact upon placental gene expression and that this may give clues to the mechanism which links maternal diet to later consequences.

Methods

Pregnant rats were fed control or a low protein diet from conception to day 13 gestation. Placentas were collected and RNA sequencing performed using the Illumina platform.

Results

Protein restriction down-regulated 67 genes and up-regulated 24 genes in the placenta. Ingenuity pathway analysis showed sign

SUBMITTER: Daniel Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5059985 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature