Sleep restriction during pregnancy: hypertension and renal abnormalities in young offspring rats

Abstract

Study objectives: Because the maternal environment can affect several physiological functions of the newborn, the aim of the present study was to examine the impact of sleep restriction during pregnancy on renal morphology and function in young offspring.

Design: Female 3-month-old Wistar rats were divided in 2 experimental groups: C (control) and SR (sleep restriction between the 14th and 20th day of pregnancy). Pregnancy was confirmed by vaginal smear. SR females were subjected to sleep restriction by the multiple platform technique for 20 h daily. After birth, only male litters (6 for each mother) were selected and designated OC (offspring from C) and OSR (offspring from SR). At 2 months of age, blood pressure (BP) was measured by tail plethysmography; at 3 months the renal plasma flow (RPF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), glomerular area, and number of glomeruli per mm3 were evaluated.

Measurements and results: Offspring from SR had higher systolic blood pressure than OC. In this group (OSR), we also observed significant increase in RPF and GFR, enlarged glomeruli diameter, and reduced number of glomeruli per mm3 of renal tissue.

Conclusions: Our data suggest that sleep restriction during pregnancy is able to modify renal development, resulting in morphologic and functional alterations in young offspring.

Figure 1

Weight gain during pregnancy and relative adrenal weight from mothers SR (sleep restricted) and C (control mothers). *P ≤ 0.05 vs. group C (Two-way ANOVA, Bonferroni post-test); **P ≤ 0.0001 vs. group C (Student t-test).

Figure 2

Arterial blood pressure of the offspring. OC refers to offspring from control mothers; OSR, offspring from sleep-restricted mothers. *P ≤ 0.001 vs. group OC (Two-way ANOVA, Bonferroni post-test).

Figure 3

Morphometric renal parameters of the studied groups.OC refers to offspring from control mothers; OSR, offspring from sleep-restricted mothers. *P ≤ 0.0001 vs. group OC (Student t-test).

Figure 4

Glucose tolerance test of the offspring. Data are reported as means ± SD. OC refers to offspring from control mothers; OSR, offspring from sleep-restricted mothers.