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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 580/2/629    most recent jphysiol.2006.126151v1 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 Trevenzoli, I. H. Articles by Moura, E. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Trevenzoli, I. H. Articles by Moura, E. G. Related Collections Integrative

¹ Physiology Department, Roberto Alcântara Gomes Biology Institute, State University of Rio De Janeiro
² Biology Department, Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Juiz De Fora
³ Applied Nutrition Department, Nutrition Institute, State University of Rio De Janeiro

Epidemiological studies have shown a strong correlation between stressful events (nutritional, hormonal or environmental) in early life and development of adult diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular failure. It is known that gestation and lactation are crucial periods for healthy growth in mammals and that the sympathoadrenal system is markedly influenced by environmental conditions during these periods. We previously demonstrated that neonatal hyperleptinaemia in rats programmes higher body weight, higher food intake and hypothalamic leptin resistance in adulthood. Using this model of programming, we investigated adrenal medullary function and effects on cardiovascular parameters in male rats in adulthood. Leptin treatment during the first 10 days of lactation (8µg 100 g^–1 day^–1, S.C.) resulted in lower body weight (6.5%, P < 0.05), hyperleptinaemia (10-fold, P < 0.05) and higher catecholamine content in adrenal glands (18.5%, P < 0.05) on the last day of treatment. In adulthood (150 days), the rats presented higher body weight (5%, P < 0.05), adrenal catecholamine content (3-fold, P < 0.05), tyrosine hydroxylase expression (35%, P < 0.05) and basal and caffeine-stimulated catecholamine release (53% and 100%, respectively, P < 0.05). Systolic blood pressure and heart rate were also higher in adult rats (7% and 6%, respectively, P < 0.05). Our results show that hyperleptinaemia in early life increases adrenal medullary function in adulthood and that this may alter cardiovascular parameters. Thus, we suggest that imprinting factors which increase leptin and catecholamine levels during the neonatal period could be involved in development of adult chronic diseases.

(Received 5 December 2006; accepted after revision 4 January 2007; first published online 11 January 2007)
Corresponding author P. Cristina Lisboa: Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, 5° andar, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Av. 28 de setembro, 87, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20551-030, Brazil.  Email: pclisboa{at}uerj.br

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