Maternal perinatal undernutrition has long-term consequences on morphology, function and gene expression of the adrenal medulla in the adult male rat.

摘要: Epidemiological studies suggest that maternal undernutrition sensitises to the development of chronic adult diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Although physiological mechanisms involved in this 'perinatal programming' remain largely unknown, alterations stress neuroendocrine systems hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) sympathoadrenal axes might play a crucial role. Despite recent reports showing perinatal disturbs chromaffin cells organisation activity male rats at weaning, its long-term effects on adrenal medulla animals are unknown. Using rat model 50% food restriction (FR50) from second week gestation until histochemistry approaches revealed noradrenergic aggregation cholinergic innervation 8-month-old FR50 rats. Electron microscopy showed cell granules exhibited ultrastructural changes These morphological were associated with reduced circulating levels excretion catecholamines. By contrast, catecholamine plasma significantly increased after 16 or 72 h fasting, indicating responsiveness system deprivation was accentuated Among 384 pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-sensitive genes, we identified 129 genes (33.6%) under expressed (ratio < 0.7) animals. A large number these cytoskeleton remodelling vesicle trafficking. Taken together, our results show programmes adrenomedullary function gene expression Because catecholamines contribute metabolic homeostasis, well arterial blood pressure regulation, observed may participate programming diseases.