Maternal protein restriction before pregnancy affects vital organs of offspring in Wistar rats.

Epidemiologic studies indicate that undernutrition during fetal growth can have long-term effects on adult health. However, it is not known whether these effects are also associated with maternal undernutrition before conception. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of dietary restriction before pregnancy on the vital organs and blood parameters of offspring at different time points. Wistar female rats in the restricted group were fed a diet consisting of 80 g protein/kg for 8 weeks before pregnancy and switched to 160 g protein/kg (control) from day 0 of pregnancy, while animals from the control group were fed 160 g protein/kg throughout life. The progeny were studied at birth (n = 71), at 94 days (n = 20), and at 180 days (n = 16). Weight gain during pregnancy was significantly lower (P <.01) for dams in the restricted group. At birth, relative weight for brain was lower (P </=.008), while for kidney it was higher (P </=.008) in the restricted group compared to control. At 94 days, the relative weights of brain, liver, and heart were lower (P </=.01 for all) in the restricted group than in the control group. However, at 180 days, only liver and kidney showed lower (P </=.01 for both) relative weights. Further, in the restricted group, increases in blood glucose at 94 days and in cholesterol at 180 days were significant (P <.01 for both) in the offspring. The results thus indicate that maternal undernutrition before conception not only affected growth of vital organs, but also resulted in increased levels of glucose and cholesterol in the offspring at adulthood. Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.