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Table 1 Maternal weight and haematological parameters and litter characteristics at days 5, 10, 15 and 20 of gestation in rats fed a control or low-protein diet from mating.

From: The impact of maternal protein restriction during rat pregnancy upon renal expression of angiotensin receptors and vasopressin-related aquaporins

 

Diet

Gestational age (n = 7-9)

Statistical significance

  

5

10

15

20

GA

Diet

GA* Diet

Body weight (g)

Control

257.3 ± 10.7d

312.8 ± 6.2c

325.3 ± 12.1b

372.8 ± 15.0a

P < 0.001

NS

NS

 

Low protein

277.8 ± 8.2d

302.6 ± 10.7c

347.3 ± 7.4b

346.7 ± 12.8a

   

Pregnancy weight gain (g)

Control

26.2 ± 2.0d

63.8 ± 6.8c

82.7 ± 7.2b

137.3 ± 7.9a

P < 0.05

NS

NS

 

Low protein

19.8 ± 3.0d

60.4 ± 6.3c

90.2 ± 5.2b

122.7 ± 13.2a

   

Kidney weight (g)

Control

1.04 ± 0.04b

1.10 ± 0.04

1.10 ± 0.04a

1.11 ± 0.06

P < 0.05

NS

NS

 

Low protein

0.88 ± 0.11b

1.11 ± 0.05

1.14 ± 0.04a

0.97 ± 0.05

   

Urine volume (ml/24 hour)

Control

18.3 ± 3.5

26.09 ± 4.7

22.4 ± 5.6

29.5 ± 7.4

NS

NS

NS

 

Low protein

18.2 ± 2.9

26.6 ± 6.7

21.4 ± 3.1

20.5 ± 6.0

   

Litter size (pups/litter)

Control

  

15 ± 1

14 ± 1

NS

NS

NS

 

Low protein

  

14.0 ± 1

14 ± 1

   

Mean fetal weight (g)

Control

  

0.30 ± 0.01

3.66 ± 0.11

NS

NS

NS

 

Low protein

  

0.29 ± 0.01

3.37 ± 0.13

   

Mean placental weight (g)

Control

  

0.22 ± 0.01

0.51 ± 0.03

NS

NS

NS

 

Low protein

  

0.22 ± 0.01

0.53 ± 0.07

   

Red blood cells (106/ml)

Control

6.0 ± 0.7

6.3 ± 0.7

6.6 ± 0.3

6.5 ± 0.2

NS

NS

NS

 

Low protein

7.4 ± 0.1

6.9 ± 0.1

6.7 ± 0.2

6.3 ± 0.2

   

Haemoglobin (g/dL)

Control

11.3 ± 1.3

11.8 ± 1.3

12.4 ± 0.5

11.9 ± 0.4

NS

NS

NS

 

Low protein

13.9 ± 0.2

13.0 ± 0.3

12.6 ± 0.2

11.6 ± 0.3

   

Haematocrit (%)

Control

30.6 ± 3.6

31.6 ± 3.6

33.3 ± 1.8

32.6 ± 1.2

NS

NS

NS

 

Low protein

37.8 ± 0.5

35.3 ± 0.7

33.8 ± 0.5

31.3 ± 0.9

   
  1. Data is presented as mean ± SEM. Data was analysed by two-way ANOVA and the statistical significance of main factor and interaction effects is shown (NS - not significant). Superscripts denote the statistical significance of post hoc analysis conducted where there was a significant effect of gestational age (superscript letters indicate a>b>c > d, P < 0.05).