Award details

Influence of maternal diet on the development of atherosclerosis in the offspring

Reference	BB/C508250/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Andrew Salter
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Simon Langley-Evans
Institution	University of Nottingham
Department	Sch of Biosciences
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	216,111
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	04/01/2005
End date	03/07/2008
Duration	42 months

Abstract

It is becoming increasing evident that the maternal diet has a major impact on subsequent development of chronic disease in the offspring. A broad body of evidence suggests that maternal undernutrition in pregnancy gives rise to offspring that are prone to the development of a range of cardiovascular risk factors including, hypertension, obesity and diabetes. Studies in experimental animals appear to confirm these findings, but few have actually shown an increase in the development of atherosclerosis itself. Though less compelling, there is also evidence that hyperlipidaemia in pregnancy increases the susceptibility of the offspring to cardiovascular disease. This study aims to provide direct evidence that specific changes in maternal diet result in increased susceptibility to atherosclerosis. Using the atherosclerosis¿susceptibe transgenic apoE*3 Leiden mouse we will investigate the effect of maternal undernutrition (low protein diet) and maternal hyperlipidaemia (induced by a high fat/high cholesterol diet) on the development of atherosclerosis in the offspring. In addition to measuring the extent of aortic atherosclerosis we will also look at a range of potential risk factors in the offspring including plasma lipids, blood pressure and plasma markers of inflammatory disease. The origin of the latter will be further investigated by looking at gene expression (using a specific Mouse Inflammatory Array) in the aorta itself and in the liver. The impact of challenging the offspring with an atherogenic diet (compared to a low fat chow) will be investigated. The study will provide vital new information on the impact of these two perturbations in maternal diet on the actual development of the disease state (atherosclerosis), as well as the interactive effect of the diet of the offspring. This programme of work will provide important insights into the molecular basis of any such effects.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	Ageing, Diet and Health, Immunology
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

I accept the terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)

export PDF file

back to list new search