Gestational and postnatal protein deficiency affects postnatal development and histomorphometry of liver, kidneys, and ovaries of female rats' offspring. 2012

Fernanda R C L Almeida, and Gerluza A B Silva, and Aparecida T L Fiúza, and Deoclécio A Chianca, and Anderson J Ferreira, and Hélio Chiarini-Garcia
Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. falmeida@icb.ufmg.br

Pre- and postnatal protein deficiency may lead to decreased foetal intra-uterine development and postnatal growth, which is common in developing countries. The present study aimed to investigate the consequences of a low-protein intake during gestation and postnatally on adult female rats' offspring. Female rats were given either a control or a protein-deficient diet throughout the gestation and lactation periods. A subset of females was killed at day 20 of pregnancy for foetal and placental measurements. Another subset of females farrowed and the number, length, and weight of the offspring were measured. After weaning, the offspring received the same diet as their dams until 70 days of age. They were sacrificed, and some organs were weighed and collected for histomorphometrical analyses. Placental weight and size and foetal weight were lower in protein-deficient dams. The weight and length of pups at birth were also lower in the deficient group. The organs to body weight ratio were higher in the deficient animals at 70 days of age. The protein-deficient female offspring had a smaller ovarian area, greater numbers of primordial follicles and developing follicles per square millimetres of ovarian cortex, and no corpora lutea. The liver showed smaller nuclear diameter of the hepatocytes and height of the hepatocytes cords. The kidneys showed smaller cortical area with reduced glomerular number and diameter. These results provide the first evidence of the histomorphological changes of the association between gestational and postnatal protein deficiency in female rats' offspring.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007668 Kidney Body organ that filters blood for the secretion of URINE and that regulates ion concentrations. Kidneys
D008099 Liver A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances. Livers
D009929 Organ Size The measurement of an organ in volume, mass, or heaviness. Organ Volume,Organ Weight,Size, Organ,Weight, Organ
D010929 Placentation The development of the PLACENTA, a highly vascularized mammalian fetal-maternal organ and major site of transport of oxygen, nutrients, and fetal waste products between mother and FETUS. The process begins at FERTILIZATION, through the development of CYTOTROPHOBLASTS and SYNCYTIOTROPHOBLASTS, the formation of CHORIONIC VILLI, to the progressive increase in BLOOD VESSELS to support the growing fetus. Hemochorial Placental Development,Hemochorial Placentation,Placental Development,Placental Development, Hemochorial,Placentation, Hemochorial
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011488 Protein Deficiency A nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of proteins in the diet, characterized by adaptive enzyme changes in the liver, increase in amino acid synthetases, and diminution of urea formation, thus conserving nitrogen and reducing its loss in the urine. Growth, immune response, repair, and production of enzymes and hormones are all impaired in severe protein deficiency. Protein deficiency may also arise in the face of adequate protein intake if the protein is of poor quality (i.e., the content of one or more amino acids is inadequate and thus becomes the limiting factor in protein utilization). (From Merck Manual, 16th ed; Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 12th ed, p406) Deficiency, Protein,Deficiencies, Protein,Protein Deficiencies
D011506 Proteins Linear POLYPEPTIDES that are synthesized on RIBOSOMES and may be further modified, crosslinked, cleaved, or assembled into complex proteins with several subunits. The specific sequence of AMINO ACIDS determines the shape the polypeptide will take, during PROTEIN FOLDING, and the function of the protein. Gene Products, Protein,Gene Proteins,Protein,Protein Gene Products,Proteins, Gene
D003338 Corpus Luteum The yellow body derived from the ruptured OVARIAN FOLLICLE after OVULATION. The process of corpus luteum formation, LUTEINIZATION, is regulated by LUTEINIZING HORMONE. Corpora Lutea,Lutea, Corpora
D005260 Female Females
D006080 Ovarian Follicle An OOCYTE-containing structure in the cortex of the OVARY. The oocyte is enclosed by a layer of GRANULOSA CELLS providing a nourishing microenvironment (FOLLICULAR FLUID). The number and size of follicles vary depending on the age and reproductive state of the female. The growing follicles are divided into five stages: primary, secondary, tertiary, Graafian, and atretic. Follicular growth and steroidogenesis depend on the presence of GONADOTROPINS. Graafian Follicle,Atretic Follicle,Ovarian Follicles,Atretic Follicles,Follicle, Atretic,Follicle, Graafian,Follicle, Ovarian,Follicles, Atretic,Follicles, Graafian,Follicles, Ovarian,Graafian Follicles

Related Publications

Fernanda R C L Almeida, and Gerluza A B Silva, and Aparecida T L Fiúza, and Deoclécio A Chianca, and Anderson J Ferreira, and Hélio Chiarini-Garcia
May 1973, The Journal of nutrition,
Fernanda R C L Almeida, and Gerluza A B Silva, and Aparecida T L Fiúza, and Deoclécio A Chianca, and Anderson J Ferreira, and Hélio Chiarini-Garcia
November 2019, Environmental toxicology,
Fernanda R C L Almeida, and Gerluza A B Silva, and Aparecida T L Fiúza, and Deoclécio A Chianca, and Anderson J Ferreira, and Hélio Chiarini-Garcia
December 2009, Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.),
Fernanda R C L Almeida, and Gerluza A B Silva, and Aparecida T L Fiúza, and Deoclécio A Chianca, and Anderson J Ferreira, and Hélio Chiarini-Garcia
January 2022, Journal of women's health and development,
Fernanda R C L Almeida, and Gerluza A B Silva, and Aparecida T L Fiúza, and Deoclécio A Chianca, and Anderson J Ferreira, and Hélio Chiarini-Garcia
January 1969, Physiologia Bohemoslovaca,
Fernanda R C L Almeida, and Gerluza A B Silva, and Aparecida T L Fiúza, and Deoclécio A Chianca, and Anderson J Ferreira, and Hélio Chiarini-Garcia
September 2019, Reproduction, fertility, and development,
Fernanda R C L Almeida, and Gerluza A B Silva, and Aparecida T L Fiúza, and Deoclécio A Chianca, and Anderson J Ferreira, and Hélio Chiarini-Garcia
January 1978, Biology of the neonate,
Fernanda R C L Almeida, and Gerluza A B Silva, and Aparecida T L Fiúza, and Deoclécio A Chianca, and Anderson J Ferreira, and Hélio Chiarini-Garcia
September 1994, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology,
Fernanda R C L Almeida, and Gerluza A B Silva, and Aparecida T L Fiúza, and Deoclécio A Chianca, and Anderson J Ferreira, and Hélio Chiarini-Garcia
December 2022, European journal of oral sciences,
Fernanda R C L Almeida, and Gerluza A B Silva, and Aparecida T L Fiúza, and Deoclécio A Chianca, and Anderson J Ferreira, and Hélio Chiarini-Garcia
November 2010, Neurobiology of disease,
Copied contents to your clipboard!