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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 571/1/211    most recent jphysiol.2005.099192v1 Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Watkins, A. Articles by Fleming, T. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Watkins, A. Articles by Fleming, T. P. Related Collections Integrative

¹ School of Biological Sciences, Developmental and Cell Biology Group, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton SO16 7PX, UK
² MRC Environmental Research Centre, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
³ Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
⁴ DOHaD Centre, Level F (887), Princess Anne Hospital, Coxford Road, Southampton SO16 5YA, UK

The Ped (preimplantation embryo development) gene, whose product is Qa-2 protein, is correlated with a faster rate of preimplantation development (Ped fast phenotype) in mice that express Qa-2 protein compared with mice with an absence of Qa-2 protein (Ped slow phenotype). In the current study, we have used two congenic mouse strains differentially expressing the Ped gene, strain B6.K1 (Ped slow; Qa-2 negative) and strain B6.K2 (Ped fast; Qa-2 positive), to investigate the effects of Ped gene expression on postnatal growth profiles, systolic blood pressure and adult organ allometry. At birth, B6.K1 mice were moderately lighter than B6.K2 mice. B6.K1 mice became heavier during postnatal life (P < 0.05) and had elevated systolic blood pressure at 21 weeks of age when compared with B6.K2 mice (P= 0.006). B6.K1 mice also demonstrated elevated serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, a known regulator of blood pressure (P= 0.037). Altered organ:body weight ratios were also observed, with the B6.K1 females having a higher ratio for lungs than B6. K2 females (P= 0.014). These data provide evidence of an association between the rate of preimplantation embryo development, postnatal growth and later cardiovascular function.

(Received 22 September 2005; accepted after revision 27 October 2005; first published online 3 November 2005)
Corresponding author A. Watkins: School of Biological Sciences, Developmental and Cell Biology Group, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton SO16 7PX, UK. Email: ajw7{at}soton.ac.uk

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