Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The tendency to eat salty foods is an individualized matter. Aldosterone plays an important role in this increase in salt appetite. In this study the effects of different salt concentrations during pregnancy on Na and aldosterone level, adrenal gland and salt appetite of rat’s infants and the relation of salt consumption with Bp were studied.

Method: Eight groups of rats, six rats in each group, (ones of male and five female) having 200+20 grams of weight were selected, salt solutions were prepared in concentrations of 0.5, l, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, and 2 percent and given to test groups during pre-pregnancy,pregnancy and lactation period and control group used tap water of Isfahan. Another test group used distilled water. Na and Aldosterone level, adrenal tissue histologic changes and salt appetite in infants were evaluated.

Result: Na serum level in infants show a direct correlation with the rate of mother’s salt consumption, but aldostrone serum level in infants does not show this correlation. Adrenal gland shows an increase in weight in group which their mother consumed distilled water and the groups which consumed salty water show an inverse change. Salt appetite and tendency to eat salty foods and salty water correlated with mother’s salt consumption. Bp show a direct correlation with salt consumption.

Discussion: An increase in salt consumption during pregnancy increases salt appetite and Na serum level in infants, but aldosterone levels shows a reduction, So we could propose that aldosterone is not responsible for this increase in salt appetite and Na level. Other Neurohomoral mechanisms lead to increase in this salt appetite and Na level. Adrenal atrophy is the response of adrenal gland to this conditions. Bp level in rat’s infants also increased,which this increase related to direct effect of Na and indirect hormonal and tissure changes.