RESEARCH ARTICLE Long Non-Coding RNA Expression Profile in the Kidneys of Male, Low Birth Weight Rats Exposed to Maternal Protein Restriction at

Background Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are involved in a variety of biological functions and aberrantly expressed in many types of diseases, are required for postnatal develop-ment. In this study, we aimed to investigate the lncRNA profiles in low birth weight (LBW) rats with reduced nephron endowment induced by the restriction of maternal protein intake. LBW by reduced nephron endowment is a risk factor for hypertension and end-stage renal disease in adulthood. Methods Kidneys were obtained from LBW rats fed a low-protein diet throughout gestation and lacta-tion as well as from normal control rats born from dams fed normal protein diets at postnatal day 1 (p1) and 10 (p10). The total number of glomeruli in the kidneys was counted at p10. LncRNA expression profiles were analyzed by sequencing and screening using the Agilent Rat lncRNA Array. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis of these lncRNAs con-firmed the identity of some genes