Maternal protein malnutrition induced‐hypertension: New evidence about the autonomic and respiratory dysfunctions and epigenetic mechanisms

Abstract

SummaryMaternal protein malnutrition during the critical stages of development (pregnancy, lactation and first infancy) can lead to adult hypertension. Studies have shown that renal and cardiovascular dysfunctions can be associated to the development of hypertension in humans and rats exposed to maternal protein malnutrition. The etiology of hypertension, however, includes a complex network involved in central and peripheral blood pressure control. Recently, the hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system in protein-restricted rats has been reported. Studies have shown that protein malnutrition during pregnancy and/or lactation alters blood pressure control through mechanisms that include central sympathetic-respiratory dysfunctions and epigenetic modifications, which may contribute to adult hypertension. Thus, this review will discuss the historical context, new evidences of neurogenic disruption in respiratorysympathetic activities and possible epigenetic mechanisms involved in maternal protein malnutrition induced-hypertension. K E Y W O R D Shypertension, malnutrition, phenotypic plasticity, sympathetic activity, ventilation | INTRODUCTIONArterial hypertension (AH) affects more than 1 billion people around the world and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular dysfunction, recognized as the main cause of morbidity and mortality. Because of the interaction between the sympathetic and respiratory nervous systems, growing evidence supports the notion that an increase in sympathetic and respiratory activities plays an important role in the development of hypertension. [8][9][10] This observation has prompted the development of several studies evaluating sympathetic and respiratory activities and sensitivity of peripheral and central chemoreceptors in various hypertension models. For example, in chronic intermittent hypoxia 8,11 in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) 4 and in renovascular hypertension, 12 augmented sympathetic-respiratory activities and higher peripheral chemosensitivity were seen to be associated to hypertension.

Maternal Protein Malnutrition: Current and Future Perspectives of Spirulina Supplementation in Neuroprotection

“…These behavioral alterations were not restricted to F1 generation only but also transmitted to following generation. These recent reports have further strengthened the idea that PMN results in neurobehavioral and epigenetic alteration leading to growth restriction and hypertension (de Brito Alves and Costa-Silva, 2018).…”

Maternal physical activity prevents the overexpression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α and cardiorespiratory dysfunction in protein malnourished rats

“…Arterial hypertension is a pathology with a multifactorial etiology, which may include renal alterations 33 , increase in the number of circulating catecholamines 34 , increase in peripheral vascular resistance 35 , sympathetic and respiratory changes 8 , among others. Respiratory function during development is an important prognostic factor for the course of neurogenic arterial hypertension and the expected lifespan of individuals who suffered perinatal undernutrition 1,7,36 .…”

“…In animals, a recent review showed accumulating evidence that, to a significant degree, the programmed hypertension may have a developmental origin, and the sympathetic-respiratory dysfunctions play an important role on the development of the maternal diet induced-hypertension 7,8 . Maternal protein restriction (8% casein) during gestation and lactation induced high respiratory frequency (RF) and respiratory chemosensitivity to O 2 /CO 2 9 .…”

Short‐ and long‐term effects of maternal dyslipidaemia on blood pressure and baroreflex sensitivity in male rat offspring

“…19 The aetiology of hypertension in rats exposed to nutritional insults during pregnancy and/or lactation includes a complex network involved in central and peripheral blood pressure control. 20 Findings…”