OBJECTIVETo investigate the gender differences in perinatal high-salt diet programming of blood pressure and salt sensitivity in offspring Sprague-Dawley rats and explore the mechanisms.

METHODSThe rats were fed with high-salt diet (8% NaCl) or normal salt diet (1% NaCl) during the perinatal period. Body weight changes were monitored, and blood pressure and heart rate were measured by non-invasive tail-cuff methods in both male and female offspring rats. The components of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in both the serum and brain tissue, and hormones related with stress reaction were detected using radioimmunology methods.

RESULTSPerinatal high-salt diet did not affect adolescent blood pressure in both genders, but significantly increased salt sensitivity in male offspring rats. Perinatal high-salt diet also increased serum angiotensin II (ANG II) while decreased corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and cortisol in male offsprings, as compared with the normal salt diet group. No similar results were found in the female offspring rats.

CONCLUSIONThere is a significant gender difference in perinatal high-salt diet programming of offspring blood pressure salt sensitivity, and the mechanisms may involve the disturbance of the RAAS function and stress reaction.