We investigated the effects of ROS on vascular function in the SHRSP offspring of protein-restricted (PR) dams. Male and female SHRSPs were matedand female rats were fed either a control diet containing 20% casein or a PR diet containing 9% casein, with pair feeding until gestation. At 12 weeks of age, PMA was infused at a dose of 10 nmol/h for 4 weeks. The birth weight of male and female offspring of PR dams was lower than that of offspring of control dams. Plasma d-ROMs level was significantly higher in offspring of PR dams than in control dams. However, anti-oxidant enzyme activities were similar in both groups. In the thoracic aorta, Ach-induced relaxation was significantly reduced in offspring of PR dams. Expression of endothelial eNOS was lower and expression of sGC was higher in offspring of PR dams. Our present study revealed that the SHRSP offspring of maternal PR dams were hyper-responsive to ROS and displayed evidence of vascular dysfunction.