Dietary-induced gestational iron deficiency inhibits postnatal tissue iron delivery and postpones the cessation of active nephrogenesis in rats.

Gestational iron deficiency (ID) can alter developmental programming through impaired nephron endowment, leading to adult hypertension, but nephrogenesis is unstudied. Iron status and renal development during dietary-induced gestational ID (<6 mg Fe kg-1 diet from Gestational Day 2 to Postnatal Day (PND) 7) were compared with control rats (198 mg Fe kg-1 diet). On PND2-PND10, PND15, PND30 and PND45, blood and tissue iron status were assessed. Nephrogenic zone maturation (PND2-PND10), radial glomerular counts (RGCs), glomerular size density and total planar surface area (PND15 and PND30) were also assessed. Blood pressure (BP) was measured in offspring. ID rats were smaller, exhibiting lower erythrocyte and tissue iron than control rats (PND2-PND10), but these parameters returned to control values by PND30-PND45. Relative kidney iron (µg g-1 wet weight) at PND2-PND10 was directly related to transport iron measures. In ID rats, the maturation of the active nephrogenic zone was later than control. RGCs, glomerular size, glomerular density, and glomerular planar surface area were lower than control at PND15, but returned to control by PND30. After weaning, the kidney weight/rat weight ratio (mg g-1) was heavier in ID than control rats. BP readings at PND45 were lower in ID than control rats. Altered kidney maturation and renal adaptations may contribute to glomerular size, early hyperfiltration and long-term renal function.