Protein restriction during pregnancy affects lung development and promotes oxidative stress and inflammation in C57 BL/6 mice offspring.
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Date
2022
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Abstract
Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of maternal protein restriction during pregnancy
on the lungs of 1-d and 31-d old offspring of C57BL/6 mice.
Methods: The C57BL/6 mice (810 wk) were used for breeding. After pregnancy confirmation, female mice
were randomly divided into a control group (CG) receiving a standard diet (22% protein) and a protein-
restriction group (PRG) receiving a low-protein diet (6% protein). In the low-protein diet, protein was
replaced by carbohydrate. After parturition, female mice that received the low-protein diet were fed the
standard diet. Male offspring were euthanized 1 d and 31 d after birth for subsequent analysis. We evaluated
the effects of a protein-restricted diet during gestation in pulmonary organogenesis, lung oxidative stress,
and pulmonary inflammatory response of the offspring.
Results: PRG mice 1 d after birth showed lower body and lung mass, length, relative mass, lung density, and
erythrocyte count compared with CG mice. There was an increase in alveolar airspace density and a higher
mean linear intercept (Lm), greater oxidative damage, and inflammation in PRG mice compared with CG
mice. At 31 d after birth, PRG mice had lower body mass, length, and lung mass values compared with CG
mice. PRG mice showed greater recruitment of inflammatory cells to the airways. In addition, there was
increased collagen deposition in the lungs, altered inflammatory mediators, and greater oxidative damage
compared with CG mice.
Conclusions: Protein restriction during pregnancy reduces the body weight of offspring and promotes inflam-
mation and oxidative stress, resulting in a simplification of the lung structure.
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Keywords
Lung oxidative stress, Inflammation, Fetal programming
Citation
CASTRO, T. de F. et al. Protein restriction during pregnancy affects lung development and promotes oxidative stress and inflammation in C57 BL/6 mice offspring. Nutrition, v. 101, artigo 111682, set. 2022. Disponível em: <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0899900722000946?via%3Dihub>. Acesso em: 11 out. 2022.