New Insights on the Maternal Diet Induced-Hypertension: Potential Role of the Phenotypic Plasticity and Sympathetic-Respiratory Overactivity

Abstract

Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and affects worldwide population. Current environment including life style coupled with genetic programming have been attributed to the rising incidence of hypertension. Besides, environmental conditions during perinatal development such as maternal malnutrition can program changes in the integration among renal, neural, and endocrine system leading to hypertension. This phenomenon is termed phenotypic plasticity and refers to the adjustment of a phenotype in response to environmental stimuli without genetic change, following a novel or unusual input during development. Human and animal studies indicate that fetal exposure to an adverse maternal environment may alter the renal morphology and physiology that contribute to the development of hypertension. Recently, it has been shown that the maternal protein restriction alter the central control of SAH by a mechanism that include respiratory dysfunction and enhanced sympathetic-respiratory coupling at early life, which may contribute to adult hypertension. This review will address the new insights on the maternal diet induced-hypertension that include the potential role of the phenotypic plasticity, specifically the perinatal protein malnutrition, and sympathetic-respiratory overactivity.

Maternal protein restriction induced‐hypertension is associated to oxidative disruption at transcriptional and functional levels in the medulla oblongata

“…Male rats exposed to protein restriction during pregnancy and lactation exhibited lower body weight and higher ABP at 90 days old than control (17% protein). These results confirm similar observations from previous studies . We reported that low birth weight caused by prenatal protein restriction is associated to reduction in serum albumin, total serum proteins and globulin levels .…”

“…These results confirm similar observations from previous studies. 1,4,20 We reported that low birth weight caused by prenatal protein restriction is associated to reduction in serum albumin, total serum proteins and globulin levels. 1 In addition, it is known that maternal diet induced-hypertension is associated with an increase in the cardiovascular sympathetic tone in adulthood.…”

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

“…A maternal low-protein diet during gestation and/or lactation is one of the most extensively studied animal models, recapitulating phenotypic plasticity and developmental origin of AH. 13,14,17,30 A lowprotein diet (8% protein) during gestation and/or lactation followed by the consumption of a normocaloric diet has been associated with long-lasting growth restriction and hypertension, even when the offspring is weaned on a control diet. 19,[31][32][33] The kidneys play a major role in long-term control of arterial blood pressure by regulating Na + intake/excretion.…”

Developmental Origins of Cardiometabolic Diseases: Role of the Maternal Diet

“…Nowadays, it is well accepted that perinatal protein malnutrition raise risks of hypertension by mechanisms that include abnormal vascular function (Franco Mdo et al, 2002; Brawley et al, 2003; Franco et al, 2008), altered nephron morphology and function, and stimulation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) (Nuyt and Alexander, 2009; Siddique et al, 2014). Recently, studies have highlighted contribution of the sympathetic overactivity associated to enhanced respiratory rhythm and O 2 /CO 2 sensitivity on the development of the maternal low-protein diet-induced hypertension by mechanisms independent of the baroreflex function (Chen et al, 2010; Barros et al, 2015; Costa-Silva et al, 2015; de Brito Alves et al, 2015; Paulino-Silva and Costa-Silva, 2016). Offspring from dams subjected to perinatal protein restriction had relevant short-term effects on the carotid body (CB) sensitivity and respiratory control.…”

“…Indeed the nutritional factors rise as important element in this theme and it has been highlighted since Barker (Barker, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999a,b, 2000; Barker and Martyn, 1992; Fall and Barker, 1997; Osmond and Barker, 2000). In this context, new evidence from epidemiological and clinical studies have showed the association of the maternal under- and overnutrition with development of cardiometabolic dysfuntions (Ashton, 2000; Hemachandra et al, 2006; Antony and Laxmaiah, 2008; Conde and Monteiro, 2014; Costa-Silva et al, 2015; Parra et al, 2015). Thus, this review will address the new concepts about the involvement of the maternal protein malnutrition and overnutrition on the development of the cardiometabolic diseases.…”