Influence of intrauterine undernutrition on the development of hypercholesterolemia in an animal model

A low birth weight is a new risk factor for the development of premature at herosclerosis. The effect of intrauterine undernutrition on hypercholestero lemia in later life was studied in an experimental model using the Prague H ereditary Hypercholesterolemic (PHHC) rat. Compared to animals in the contr ol group (Wistar rats), animals with an increased sensitivity to high-chole sterol diet (PHHC rats) display hypercholesterolemia. Only in PHHC animals, individuals undernourished in their intrauterine life (hypotrophic group, HG) had a significantly higher total cholesterol, compared with individuals without food restriction in pregnancy (eutrophic group, EG). Restricted fo od intake in pregnancy led to smaller nests and a decreased number of pups in each litter. We found no significant differences in birth weight between HG and EG. In spite of similar birth weights in PHHC and Wistar rats, intr auterine undernutrition caused an increase in cholesterolemia in the HG gro up of the PHHC rats. The effect of intrauterine undernutrition on the devel opment of hypercholesterolemia will most likely play a role in individuals with genetically determined increased susceptibility to a high-cholesterol diet. The use of this model of intrauterine undernutrition for the study of hypercholesterolemia has proved to be feasible.