Impact of gestational and lactational low protein diet on the old rats dorsolateral prostate

Abstract

Adverse gestational conditions can lead to irreversible morphofunctional changes in the fetus, a phenomenon known as Fetal Programming (FP). Protein restriction in utero, a widely studied model of FP, is responsible for low birth weight and development of insulin resistance and type II diabetes in adulthood. PF also change levels of steroid hormones and growth factors, and these events have been related to changes in prostate development as well as disorders in the gland during aging. Thus, this project aims to evaluate the changes caused by PF in the dorsolateral prostatic lobe (DLP) in offspring to aging. For this, Sprague Dawley rats (CTR group) born to mothers fed standard diet (17% protein) or with low protein diet (6% protein) during gestation and lactation (GLLP group) will be used. Dorsolateral prostate lobes (DLP) will be collected on postnatal days (PND) 540. Analyzes of the morphological and morphometric parameters of the gland will be performed; immunocytochemical and western blotting analyzes. Particular attention will be paid to possible prostatic disorders in these animals. This project is part of the research line contemplated by a regular aid project approved by FAPESP (Proc. No. 2013 / 24230-5). (AU)