Prenatal taurine supplementation decreases adult renal function by mechanisms other than taurine inhibition of prenatal renin‐angiotensin system (1087.1)

Taurine inhibits renin‐angiotensin system (RAS). This study tests the hypothesis that the effect of perinatal taurine supplementation on adult renal function is primarily due to prenatal inhibition of the RAS by taurine. Female Sprague‐Dawley rats were fed normal rat chow and given water alone (control) or water containing captopril (400 mg/ml; captopril) or 3% taurine (taurine) from conception until delivery. Then, the rats received normal rat chow and tap water. At 7‐8 weeks of age, renal function at rest and after acute saline load (5% of body weight) was studied in conscious, restrained male rats. Compared to control, prenatal taurine but not captopril treatment slightly increased mean arterial pressure but not heart rate in adult rats. In taurine compared to control and captopril groups, renal blood flow significantly decreased whereas renal vascular resistance significantly increased. Glomerular filtration, filtration fraction, diuretic and natriuretic responses to acute saline load were significantly increased in captopril compared to the other two groups. These data indicate that the prenatal inhibition of RAS increases renal glomerular and tubular functions, while the prenatal taurine supplementation worsens renal vascular and blood pressure control. Thus, the effect of perinatal taurine supplementation on adult renal function is not related to the ability of prenatal taurine to inhibit the RAS. Grant Funding Source : Supported by Khon Kaen University