DOHaD, early life and the Cardiovascular System: Effects of maternal protein restriction on cardiac histophysiology

• Grant number: 22/11643-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2022
• Effective date (End): November 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Histology
• Principal Investigator: Luis Antonio Justulin Junior
• Grantee: Lucas Sobrinho Lemos
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Several effects during pregnancy and/or lactation can lead to problems in the offspring, affecting multiple organs and systems, including the cardiovascular system, a condition associated with DOHaD models. The literature shows that dietary conditions such as maternal protein restriction (MPR) can alter cardiac morphophysiology, leading to hypertension and cardiac problems, and these effects can already be modulated early in life. Therefore, the aim of this project is to evaluate the effects of maternal protein restriction on cardiovascular morphophysiology in rats on postnatal day (PND) 21, with emphasis on oxidative and cellular stress. For this purpose, male rats of the Sprague Dawley strain submitted to RPM will be used, divided into 2 groups: Rats born from mothers fed a normoprotein diet (CTR, 17% protein) or a hypoprotein diet (GLLP, 6%), during gestation and lactation. At TLD 21, the animals will be euthanized and hearts collected. The hearts will be collected for morphological analysis, immunolabeling and protein expression of factors that regulate apoptosis, cellular stress and oxidative stress, as well as analysis of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD and GSH). The expected results are that RPM directly affects cardiac morpho-physiology, with emphasis on parameters that modulate systemic homeostasis and, even though such alterations may occur early in life, they may persist and converge in cellular and systemic stress, as well as susceptibility to diseases throughout life and aging.