Hsiu-Chu Chou, Chung-Ming Chen
Taipei Medical University.
Taiwan
Journal of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
J Dev Orig Health Dis 2023; 14: 272-278
DOI: 10.1017/S2040174422000575
Abstract
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with reduced cardiac function in neonates. Uteroplacental insufficiency (UPI) is the most common cause of FGR. The mechanisms underlying these alterations remain unknown. We hypothesized that UPI would influence cardiac development in offspring rats. Through this study, we evaluated the effects of UPI during pregnancy on heart histology and pulmonary hypertension in growth-restricted newborn rats. On gestation Day 18, either UPI was induced through bilateral uterine vessel ligation (FGR group) or sham surgery (control group) was performed. The right middle lobe of the lung and the heart were harvested for histological and immunohistochemical evaluation on postnatal days 0 and 7. The FGR group exhibited significantly lower body weight, hypertrophy and degeneration of cardiomyocytes, increased intercellular spaces between the cardiomyocytes and collagen deposition, and decreased glycogen deposition and HNK-1 expression compared with the control group on postnatal days 0 and 7. These results suggest that neonates with FGR may have inadequate myocardial reserves, which may cause subsequent cardiovascular compromise in future life. Further studies are required to evaluate the hemodynamic changes in these growth-restricted neonates.
Category
Environmental Factors Associated with Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Animal Models of Pulmonary Vascular Disease and Therapy
Age Focus: Pediatric Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Fresh or Filed Publication: Filed (PHiled). Greater than 1-2 years since publication
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