Sharon Tay

Renal and hormonal responses in offspring of ewes fed a high salt diet during pregnancy

Studies performed on humans and animals have shown that a change in nutrition could influence foetal developmental processes and also alter homeostatic regulatory mechanisms among the offspring. These changes are usually permanent and may be passed on to future generations.

Sharon’s project looks specifically at how exposure of the ewe during pregnancy to high levels of salt in the diet affects the response of her offspring to salt ingestion, at both the genetic and physiological levels.

Her research falls into the CRC’s Program 1 research area and is related to the Enhance project.

Objectives:

• Determine if exposing pregnant ewes to a high-salt diet affects offspring physiology
• Determine if maternal high-salt intake during pregnancy affects foetal renal development, and the regulation of the renin-angiotensin system and the hormones involved in the salt/water balance of the offspring.

For more information, email Sharon.