Maternal
low-protein diet during pregnancy is a risk factor for
cardiovascular disease of the offspring in later life. The impact of
high-protein diet during pregnancy on the cardiovascular phenotype of the offspring, however, is still unknown. We examined the influence of a
high-protein diet during pregnancy and lactation on the renal, hemodynamic, and metabolic phenotype of the F1 generation. Female Wistar rats were either fed a normal
protein diet (20%
protein: NP) or an isocaloric
high-protein diet (40%
protein: HP) throughout pregnancy and lactation. At weaning, the offspring were fed with standard diet, and they were allocated according to sex and maternal diet to four groups: normal-
protein male (NPm, n = 25), normal-
protein female (NPf, n = 19), high-
protein male (HPm, n = 24), high-
protein female (HPf, n = 29). During the experiment (22 wk), the animals were characterized by repeated measurement of
body weight, food intake, blood pressure,
glucose tolerance, energy expenditure, and kidney function. At the end of the study period histomorphological analyses of the kidneys and weight measurement of reproductive fat pads were conducted. There were no differences in
birth weight between the study groups. No influence of maternal diet on energy expenditure,
glucose tolerance, and plasma
lipid levels was detected. Blood pressure and glomerulosclerosis were elevated in male offspring only, whereas female offspring were characterized by an increased food efficiency, higher
body weight, and increased fat pads. Our study demonstrates that a
high-protein diet during pregnancy and lactation in rats programs blood pressure, food efficiency, and
body weight of the offspring in a sex-dependent manner.