Treating spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with
l-arginine, taurine, and vitamins C and E (ATCE) during nephrogenesis (2 weeks before to 4 weeks after birth) persistently
lowers blood pressure. Hypothetically, differential gene expression in kidney of SHR vs. normotensive Wistar–Kyoto rats (WKY)
is partially corrected by maternal ATCE in SHR. Differential gene expression in 2-days, 2-weeks, and 48-week-old rats was
studied using oligonucleotide chips. Transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) of differentially expressed genes were analyzed
in silico. Differential gene expression varied between SHR+ATCE and SHR, suggesting both direct and indirect effects; but,
few genes were modulated toward WKY level and there was little overlap between ages. TFBS analysis suggests less Elk-1-driven
gene transcription in both WKY and SHR+ATCE vs. SHR at 2 days and 2 weeks. Concluding, in SHR, persistent antihypertensive
effects of maternal ATCE are not primarily due to persistent corrective transcription. Less Elk-1-driven transcription at
2 days and 2 weeks may be involved.
Keywords Development - Gene expression - Hypertensive rats - Kidney - Transcription factor binding sites