Exploring the physiological, morphological and molecular bases of renal developmental programming.

Funding Activity

Website
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/384207

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity Summary

Suboptimal fetal and neonatal development increases our risk of developing a range of diseases in adulthood. The concept that deleterious events during development can influence adult health is termed 'developmental programming'. Obtaining A Healthy Start to Life is a priority research goal of the Australian Government. The kidneys are particularly susceptible to developmental programming. This is in part because the functional units (nephrons) of the kidneys are all formed before birth in humans. Thus, if fetal development is suboptimal, babies are at risk of being born with a permanent nephron deficit, with functional and disease consequences. We have shown in male rats that the offspring of a maternal low protein diet have fewer nephrons and lower blood pressure than rats fed a normal diet. These rats display a striking sensitivity in adulthood to the feeding of a high salt diet. We will define the physiological and morphological bases of this sensitivity, and repeat these studies in females, as increasing evidence shows significant sex differences in developmental programming. Defining the molecular mechanisms of developmental programming is the greatest challenge for researchers in the field. We have recently completed the most comprehensive analysis to date of gene expression in the developing mouse kidney, and have shown for the first time that the mouse programmes kidney development. We will use the new techniques of genomics and bioinformatics to study the molecular mechanisms of kidney programming. This mechanistic data will provide an excellent hypothesis engine for future studies on the specific roles of these molecular pathways in developmental programming in all mammalian species.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2006

End Date: 01-01-2008

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $422,264.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Foetal Development and Medicine

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

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Other Keywords

Fetal origins of adult disease | Fetal programming | Kidney | Molecular mechanisms | Physiology | Renal development, renal disease and hypertension as adults | Stereology

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