Beschreibung:
<jats:p>It is well established that the developmental programming of hypertension occurs through dietary manipulations during pregnancy but the role of sex in developmental programming is not well understood. The study at hand aimed to further elucidate the mechanisms behind sexual dimorphism in blood pressure regulation using an established model of nutritional programming.</jats:p><jats:p>Female Wistar rats were mated and allocated to a control (18% casein; C) or low protein (9% casein; LP) diet during gestation. At 10 weeks of age, female offspring were ovariectomised (OVX) or exposed to a sham surgery procedure. At 11 months of age all animals underwent aortic telemetry implantation. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded for a 6 week period, including baseline recordings and treatment with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor LNAME.</jats:p><jats:p>LNAME induced a significant increase in blood pressure (~20mmHg, p< 0.001), in accordance with previous studies. A significant interaction was observed between surgery and diet groups (p<0.02) with differences between sham‐ and OVX females in the C and LP groups being reversed. OVX in C animals decreased systolic blood pressure by ~6mmHg compared to sham animals. In contrast OVX in LP animals, increased systolic blood pressure readings ~8mmHg higher than in sham animals.</jats:p><jats:p>Gestational exposure to a LP diet results in altered blood pressure response to OVX surgery.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold><jats:italic>Grant Funding Source</jats:italic></jats:bold><jats:italic>: BBSRC</jats:italic></jats:p>