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Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 296: F1-F9, 2009. First published July 23, 2008; doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00049.2008
0363-6127/09 $8.00
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REVIEW

Developmental programming of a reduced nephron endowment: more than just a baby's birth weight

Karen M. Moritz,1 Reetu R. Singh,2 Megan E. Probyn,1 and Kate M. Denton2

1School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, and 2Departments of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and Physiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

Submitted 28 January 2008 ; accepted in final form 18 July 2008

ABSTRACT

The risk of developing many adult-onset diseases, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and renal disease, is increased in low-birth-weight individuals. A potential underlying mechanism contributing to the onset of these diseases is the formation of a low nephron endowment during development. Evidence from the human, as well as many experimental animal models, has shown a strong association between low birth weight and a reduced nephron endowment. However, other animal models, particularly those in which the mother is exposed to elevated glucocorticoids for a short period, have shown a 20–40% reduction in nephron endowment without discernible changes in the birth weight of offspring. Such findings emphasize that a low birth weight is one, but certainly not the only, predictor of nephron endowment and suggests reduced nephron endowment and risk of developing adult-onset disease, even among normal-birth-weight individuals. Recognition of the dissociation between birth weight and nephron endowment is important for future studies aimed at elucidating the role of a reduced nephron endowment in the developmental programming of adult disease.

glucocorticoid exposure; kidney development; hypertension


Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: K. M. Moritz, School of Biomedical Sciences, Univ. of Queensland, 4072, Australia (e-mail: k.moritz{at}uq.edu.au)






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