Short‐ and long‐term effects of maternal dyslipidaemia on blood pressure and baroreflex sensitivity in male rat offspring

Maternal dyslipidaemia is a predisposing factor for arterial hypertension in male rat offspring at adulthood. This study was designed to investigate the short‐ and long‐term effects of maternal dyslipidaemia on blood pressure (BP) and baroreflex control in male rat offspring. Animals were obtained from mothers who received a dyslipidaemic (DLP, n = 7) or control (CTL, n = 7) diet during pregnancy and lactation. At 30 and 90 days of age, arterial pressure (AP), heart rate (HR) and baroreflex function were evaluated. In addition, spectral analysis of the systolic AP, diastolic AP, mean AP, HR, and spontaneous baroreflex were assessed. Data were expressed as mean ± SEM and Student's t‐test was used for comparison among groups, with statistical significance considered to be P