Differential modification of enalapril in the kidneys of lean and 'programmed' obese male young rats

Objective We investigated whether enalapril treatment could have beneficial effects on nutritionally-programmed renal changes in postnatally overfed young rats. Methods Three or 10 male pups per mother were assigned to either the Obese or Lean groups during the first 21 days of life. These pups were treated with enalapril (Obese enalapril, OE; Lean enalapril, LE) or vehicle (Obese control, OC; Lean control, LC) between 15 and 28 days. All pups had their kidneys examined at 29 days. Results OC pups weighed more than those in the LC group between 7 and 28 days of age (P < 0.05). Enalapril reduced body weights in rats from both the Obese and Lean groups between 22 and 28 days (P < 0.05). Renal cell proliferation and apoptosis, glomerulosclerosis, and tubulointerstitial fibrosis were all increased by enalapril (P < 0.05). Among the groups, renal cell apoptosis and serum creatinine were the highest in OE pups (P < 0.05). Enalapril treatment resulted in contrasting molecular expression profiles involved in renal maturation and repair in the kidneys of the rats from the Lean and Obese groups. Conclusion Enalapril can differentially modulate renal molecular alterations in lean and postnatally overfed rats and may be not beneficial in obese young male rats.