Maternal dexamethasone exposure does not affect glucose tolerance but alters renal haemodynamics in F1 rats in a sex-dependent manner

We conclude that dexamethasone-mediated prenatal programming of glomerular volume, renal function and haemodynamics is sex-dependent, occurring only in adult male offspring.

Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats (F0 ) were treated with either vehicle or dexamethasone (0.2 mg/kg ip) from gestation Day 15 to 20. F1 males and F1 females were randomly selected from each mother at 4 months of age. There was no change in serum Na+ , Na+ excretion rate, glucose tolerance or insulin sensitivity in F1 male or female rats. However, dexamethasone caused significant glomerular hypertrophy and decreases in CSinistrin and CPAH indicating decreased glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow, respectively, in dexamethasone-treated F1 male but not female rats. Dexamethasone did not affect SGLT2 mRNA or protein expression in F1 males or females.