Transgenerational left ventricular hypertrophy and hypertension in offspring after uteroplacental insufficiency in male rats

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between low birth weight and adult disease development with transmission to subsequent generations. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of intrauterine growth restriction in rats, induced by uteroplacental insufficiency, on cardiac structure, number, size, nuclearity and adult blood pressure in first (F1) and second (F2) generation male offspring. Uteroplacental insufficiency or sham surgery was induced in F0 WKY pregnant rats in late gestation giving rise to F1 Restricted and Control offspring, respectively. F1 Control and Restricted females were mated with normal males resulting in F2 Control and Restricted offspring, respectively. F1 Restricted male offspring were significantly lighter at birth (P