MATERNAL FOOD RESTRICTION DURING LACTATION PROMOTES RENAL DYSFUNCTION IN THE MALE OFFSPRING AT ADULTHOOD

Abstract

The aim of this work is to evaluate the renal function and the morphology of the kidneys in
the offspring, of both sexes, of mothers who underwent a 50% food restriction during
lactation. Pregnant Wistar rats were divided into two experimental groups: Control group
(CO) fed with standard diet and Food restriction (FR) fed with standard diet restricted to 50%
of the daily food intake of CO mothers. The intervention was carried out from the 1st to the
14th day of lactation, after from the 14th to the 21st day of lactation. The offspring of both
groups were fed with standard diet and water ad libitum until 120-day-old. At the end of the
experimental period 24-hour urine collection was performed. After euthanasia biochemical
and histological analysis were performed. Male and female FR offspring showed no change in
body weight or kidney weight compared to control counterparts. Male FR showed a reduction
in the glomerular filtration rate (CO 3.22±0.35 vs FR 2.25±0.12; ml/min) and increased total
urinary protein (CO 82.82±11.79 vs FR 123.8±8.37; mg/dL) compared to the CO offspring.
We observed a reduction in glomerular area in the male FR (CO 7259±271.7 vs FR
6349±106.3; μm 2 ) in comparison to CO offspring. In conclusion, maternal food restriction
causes functional and morphological kidney damage in adult males, being a sex-specific
response since females did not show alterations.