Pring in early adulthood (18 weeks of age) as assessed by echocardiography [150] and there is no significant difference in the amount of interstitial collagen deposition within the myocardium between the LPD and NPD groups [149]. Interestingly, however, when the biochemical composition of the left ventricle was assessed using FTIR micro-spectroscopy [149] there were marked differences detected in the biochemical spectra of the growth-restricted myocardium. In particular, there was a significant increase in the intensity of lipids, proteoglycans and carbohydrates as indicated by the increased absorbance of the 1455 and 1388 cm-1, 1228 cm-1, 1038 cm-1 bands, respectively. However, the protein, lipid and proteoglycan spatial distribution was similar within the myocardium of the left ventricular free wall and interventricular septum of the LPD and NPD adult offspring [149]. Interestingly, the spatial distribution of carbohydrates was different in the IUGR and non-IUGR hearts at 18 weeks of age with the most striking difference between the NPD and LPD myocardium observed in the absorbance band at 1228 cm-1, which is due to the presence of proteoglycans. Importantly, in this regard it has been shown that an increase in proteoglycan deposition can ultimately affect cardiac performance [191,192]. The increase in carbohydrate content in the myocardium of IUGR offspring may be indicative of altered glucose metabolism within the LPD offspring. Certainly, experimental studies link IUGR with programming of altered glucose metabolism [193,194]. We have not directly assessed glucose metabolism in the IUGR offspring in our model of maternal protein restriction. However, in a previous study in our laboratory we have shown that maternal protein restriction leads to the programming of improved postnatal whole body insulin sensitivity when postnatal growth is similar to that in utero [145], which does not support the concept that glucose metabolism is impaired. Future studies are required to further investigate the cause of the increased carbohydrate content in the LV myocardium and determine whether it relates to altered glucose metabolism. It is conceivable that the biochemical changes that we have observed in theNutrients 2015,heart of the adult IUGR LPD offspring may have developed during foetal life. In support of our findings, Tappia and colleagues showed an altered phospholipid profile and fatty acid content in IUGR offspring at birth [162]. Although no differences in myocardial collagen were observed between LPD and NPD offspring at 18 weeks of age we have detected an increase in interstitial fibrosis in LPD offspring at 24 weeks of age [143] and at 32 weeks of age [147]; hence, it is conceivable that there may be an exacerbated deposition of collagen within the myocardium as the LPD offspring age. Interestingly, at 18 weeks of age we found VP 63843 web minimal evidence of overt cardiac dysfunction under basal conditions in the IUGR offspring as assessed using both echocardiography and P-V catheterization techniques; fractional shortening a measure of myocardial contractility was normal [150]. Likewise, in another study from our laboratory there was preserved fractional shortening of the cardiac muscle in the IUGR offspring at 32 weeks of age [147]. Given our findings in relation to blood PleconarilMedChemExpress VP 63843 pressure and body weight, it is not really surprising that basal cardiac function was normal in the IUGR offspring; with normal blood pressure and attenuated postnatal body gr.Pring in early adulthood (18 weeks of age) as assessed by echocardiography [150] and there is no significant difference in the amount of interstitial collagen deposition within the myocardium between the LPD and NPD groups [149]. Interestingly, however, when the biochemical composition of the left ventricle was assessed using FTIR micro-spectroscopy [149] there were marked differences detected in the biochemical spectra of the growth-restricted myocardium. In particular, there was a significant increase in the intensity of lipids, proteoglycans and carbohydrates as indicated by the increased absorbance of the 1455 and 1388 cm-1, 1228 cm-1, 1038 cm-1 bands, respectively. However, the protein, lipid and proteoglycan spatial distribution was similar within the myocardium of the left ventricular free wall and interventricular septum of the LPD and NPD adult offspring [149]. Interestingly, the spatial distribution of carbohydrates was different in the IUGR and non-IUGR hearts at 18 weeks of age with the most striking difference between the NPD and LPD myocardium observed in the absorbance band at 1228 cm-1, which is due to the presence of proteoglycans. Importantly, in this regard it has been shown that an increase in proteoglycan deposition can ultimately affect cardiac performance [191,192]. The increase in carbohydrate content in the myocardium of IUGR offspring may be indicative of altered glucose metabolism within the LPD offspring. Certainly, experimental studies link IUGR with programming of altered glucose metabolism [193,194]. We have not directly assessed glucose metabolism in the IUGR offspring in our model of maternal protein restriction. However, in a previous study in our laboratory we have shown that maternal protein restriction leads to the programming of improved postnatal whole body insulin sensitivity when postnatal growth is similar to that in utero [145], which does not support the concept that glucose metabolism is impaired. Future studies are required to further investigate the cause of the increased carbohydrate content in the LV myocardium and determine whether it relates to altered glucose metabolism. It is conceivable that the biochemical changes that we have observed in theNutrients 2015,heart of the adult IUGR LPD offspring may have developed during foetal life. In support of our findings, Tappia and colleagues showed an altered phospholipid profile and fatty acid content in IUGR offspring at birth [162]. Although no differences in myocardial collagen were observed between LPD and NPD offspring at 18 weeks of age we have detected an increase in interstitial fibrosis in LPD offspring at 24 weeks of age [143] and at 32 weeks of age [147]; hence, it is conceivable that there may be an exacerbated deposition of collagen within the myocardium as the LPD offspring age. Interestingly, at 18 weeks of age we found minimal evidence of overt cardiac dysfunction under basal conditions in the IUGR offspring as assessed using both echocardiography and P-V catheterization techniques; fractional shortening a measure of myocardial contractility was normal [150]. Likewise, in another study from our laboratory there was preserved fractional shortening of the cardiac muscle in the IUGR offspring at 32 weeks of age [147]. Given our findings in relation to blood pressure and body weight, it is not really surprising that basal cardiac function was normal in the IUGR offspring; with normal blood pressure and attenuated postnatal body gr.
