The effect of maternal malnutrition during lactation on the endometrial ERalpha expression, collagen type, and blood vessels in the rats offspring at puberty.

The aim of this manuscript was to evaluate the effects of maternal protein-energy-restriction and energy restriction during lactation on endometrial collagen and blood vessels, uterus Eralpha expression, and estradiol serum levels in the rats offspring at puberty. At parturition, dams were grouped as: control group (C), with free access to standard rat chow containing 23% protein and 17,038.7 KJ/Kg; protein-energy restricted group (PER), with free access to formulated chow containing 8% protein but made isoenergetic to the C diet (17,038.7 KJ/Kg); and energy-restricted group (ER), which received standard rat chow containing 23% protein based on the mean ingestion of the PER group corresponding to 60% of that consumed by the control group. After weaning, all female pups had free access to standard laboratory chow until puberty, when they were killed at the diestrum stage. The uterine ERalpha expression was determined by Western-Blot and estradiol serum levels by radioimmunoassay. Endometrial collagen and blood vessels were quantified by stereology. The volumetric density of blood vessels (C = 70.7 +/- 2.2; PER = 29.2 +/- 2.4; ER = 32.3 +/- 3.6; P < 0.001) and endometrial collagen (C = 31.1 +/- 1; PER = 26.9 +/- 1.0; ER = 26.5 +/- 0.7; P < 0.05) were significantly reduced in both malnourished groups. The ER group presented higher estradiol serum levels (C = 69.2 +/- 6.4; PER = 73.4 +/- 5.5; ER = 101.0 +/- 5.4; P < 0.01) in relation to C and PER groups. ERalpha expression was greater in both malnourished groups (C = 0.11 +/- 0.02; PER = 0.41 +/- 0.12; ER = 0.35 +/- 0.03; P < 0.05). In conclusion, maternal malnutrition during lactation caused changes in endometrial angiogenesis, collagen deposition, and Eralpha expression in female offspring that will appear in puberty and could affect the reproductive biology of the female offspring. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.