Consequences of maternal protein restriction on pulmonary morphophysiology in post-weaning male rats: A DOHaD approach

• Grant number: 22/15716-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Histology
• Principal Investigator: Luis Antonio Justulin Junior
• Grantee: Flávia Alessandra Maciel
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Epidemiological and experimental studies demonstrate that adverse conditions in the intrauterine environment can cause problems in several systems in the offspring. One of these effects is maternal protein restriction (MPR), which changes cardiac morphophysiology, hypertension, changes in the kidneys and blood pressure control, as well as direct effects on the lungs, leading to stress and changing respiratory physiology, and these effects may already be modulated early in life. Therefore, the objective of this project is to evaluate the effects of MPR on respiratory morphophysiology and growth signaling factors and pathways, with emphasis on the lungs of rats on the postnatal day (PND) 21. For this, Sprague Dawle male rats will be submitted to RPM, and divided into 2 groups: Rats born from mothers that consumed fed a normal protein diet (CTR, 17% protein) or low protein diet (GLLP, 6%), during pregnancy and lactation. At PN D21, the animals will be euthanized and the lungs collected. Lungs will be collected for morphological analysis, immunostaining and protein expression of factors that regulate growth and development pathways. The expected results are that MPR directly affects lung morphophysiology and respiratory physiology, and although changes occur early in life, they can persist and converge in cellular and systemic stress, in addition to susceptibility to diseases throughout life and aging.