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Lee K, Vanin S, Nashed M, Sarikahya MH, Laviolette SR, Natale DRC, Hardy DB. Cannabidiol Exposure During Gestation Leads to Adverse Cardiac Outcomes Early in Postnatal Life in Male Rat Offspring. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2024; 9:781-796. [PMID: 38358335 DOI: 10.1089/can.2023.0213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Studies indicate that ∼7% of pregnant individuals in North America consume cannabis in pregnancy. Pre-clinical studies have established that maternal exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; major psychoactive component in cannabis) leads to fetal growth restriction and impaired cardiac function in offspring. However, the effects of maternal exposure to cannabidiol (CBD; major non-euphoric constituent) on cardiac outcomes in offspring remain unknown. Therefore, our objective is to investigate the functional and underlying molecular impacts in the hearts of offspring exposed to CBD in pregnancy. Methods: Pregnant Wistar rats were exposed to either 3 or 30 mg/kg CBD or vehicle control i.p. daily from gestational day 6 to term. Echocardiography was used to assess cardiac function in male and female offspring at postnatal day (PND) 21. Furthermore, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), immunoblotting, and bulk RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) were performed on PND21 offspring hearts. Results: Despite no differences in the heart-to-body weight ratio, both doses of CBD led to reduced cardiac function exclusively in male offspring at 3 weeks of age. Underlying this, significant alterations in the expression of the endocannabinoid system (ECS; e.g., decreased cannabinoid receptor 2) were observed. In addition, bulk RNA-seq data demonstrated transcriptional pathways significantly enriched in mitochondrial function/metabolism as well as development. Conclusion: Collectively, we demonstrated for the first time that gestational exposure to CBD, a constituent perceived as safe, leads to early sex-specific postnatal cardiac deficits and alterations in the cardiac ECS in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendrick Lee
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sebastian Vanin
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mina Nashed
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mohammed Halit Sarikahya
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Steven R Laviolette
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - David R C Natale
- Departments of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Daniel B Hardy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Children's Health Research Institute, Lawson Health Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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2
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Peixoto AB, Bravo-Valenzuela NJ, Martins WP, Tonni G, Moron AF, Mattar R, Ruano R, Rolo LC, Araujo Júnior E. Impact of overweight and obesity in the fetal cardiac function parameters in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Cardiol Young 2024; 34:319-324. [PMID: 37408451 DOI: 10.1017/s1047951123001609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of overweight and obesity in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy on fetal cardiac function parameters. METHODS We performed a prospective cohort study of 374 singleton pregnant women between 20w0d and 36w6d divided into three groups: 154 controls (body mass index - BMI < 25 kg/m2), 140 overweight (BMI 25-30 kg/m2) and 80 obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2). Fetal left ventricular (LV) modified myocardial performance index (Mod-MPI) was calculated according to the following formula: (isovolumetric contraction time + isovolumetric relaxation time)/ejection time. Spectral tissue Doppler was used to determine LV and right ventricular (RV) myocardial performance index (MPI'), peak myocardial velocity during systole (S'), early diastole (E'), and late diastole (A'). RESULTS We found significant differences between the groups in maternal age (p < 0.001), maternal weight (p < 0.001), BMI (p < 0.001), number of pregnancies (p < 0.001), parity (p < 0.001), gestational age (p = 0.013), and estimated fetal weight (p = 0.003). Overweight pregnant women had higher LV Mod-MPI (0.046 versus 0.044 seconds, p = 0.009) and LV MPI' (0.50 versus 0.47 seconds, p < 0.001) than the control group. Obese pregnant women had higher RV E' than control (6.82 versus 6.33 cm/sec, p = 0.008) and overweight (6.82 versus 6.46 cm/sec, p = 0.047) groups. There were no differences in 5-min APGAR score < 7, neonatal intensive care unit admission, hypoglycemia and hyperglobulinemia between the groups. CONCLUSIONS We observed fetal myocardial dysfunction in overweight and obese pregnant women with higher LV Mod-MPI, LV MPI' and RV E' compared to fetuses from normal weight pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Borges Peixoto
- Gynecology and Obstetrics Service, Mário Palmério University Hospital, University of Uberaba (UNIUBE), Uberaba-MG, Brazil
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba-MG, Brazil
| | - Nathalie Jeanne Bravo-Valenzuela
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Cardiology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Gabriele Tonni
- Department of Obstetrics and Neonatology, Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Istituto di Cura e Ricovero a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), AUSL Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Antonio Fernandes Moron
- Department of Obstetrics, Paulista School of Medicine - Federal University of São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - Rosiane Mattar
- Department of Obstetrics, Paulista School of Medicine - Federal University of São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Ruano
- Department of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Fetal Surgery Service, Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fl, USA
| | - Liliam Cristine Rolo
- Department of Obstetrics, Paulista School of Medicine - Federal University of São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - Edward Araujo Júnior
- Department of Obstetrics, Paulista School of Medicine - Federal University of São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo-SP, Brazil
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3
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Chatterjee P, Holody CD, Kirschenman R, Graton ME, Spaans F, Phillips TJ, Case CP, Bourque SL, Lemieux H, Davidge ST. Sex-Specific Effects of Prenatal Hypoxia and a Placental Antioxidant Treatment on Cardiac Mitochondrial Function in the Young Adult Offspring. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13624. [PMID: 37686430 PMCID: PMC10487956 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal hypoxia is associated with placental oxidative stress, leading to impaired fetal growth and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in the adult offspring; however, the mechanisms are unknown. Alterations in mitochondrial function may result in impaired cardiac function in offspring. In this study, we hypothesized that cardiac mitochondrial function is impaired in adult offspring exposed to intrauterine hypoxia, which can be prevented by placental treatment with a nanoparticle-encapsulated mitochondrial antioxidant (nMitoQ). Cardiac mitochondrial respiration was assessed in 4-month-old rat offspring exposed to prenatal hypoxia (11% O2) from gestational day (GD)15-21 receiving either saline or nMitoQ on GD 15. Prenatal hypoxia did not alter cardiac mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity in the male offspring. In females, the NADH + succinate pathway capacity decreased by prenatal hypoxia and tended to be increased by nMitoQ. Prenatal hypoxia also decreased the succinate pathway capacity in females. nMitoQ treatment increased respiratory coupling efficiency in prenatal hypoxia-exposed female offspring. In conclusion, prenatal hypoxia impaired cardiac mitochondrial function in adult female offspring only, which was improved with prenatal nMitoQ treatment. Therefore, treatment strategies targeting placental oxidative stress in prenatal hypoxia may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in adult offspring by improving cardiac mitochondrial function in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulami Chatterjee
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada;
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; (R.K.); (M.E.G.); (F.S.)
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; (S.L.B.); (H.L.)
| | - Claudia D. Holody
- Faculty Saint-Jean, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada;
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Raven Kirschenman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; (R.K.); (M.E.G.); (F.S.)
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; (S.L.B.); (H.L.)
| | - Murilo E. Graton
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; (R.K.); (M.E.G.); (F.S.)
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; (S.L.B.); (H.L.)
| | - Floor Spaans
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; (R.K.); (M.E.G.); (F.S.)
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; (S.L.B.); (H.L.)
| | - Tom J. Phillips
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK;
| | - C. Patrick Case
- Musculoskeletal Research Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK;
| | - Stephane L. Bourque
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; (S.L.B.); (H.L.)
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Hélène Lemieux
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; (S.L.B.); (H.L.)
- Faculty Saint-Jean, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada;
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Sandra T. Davidge
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada;
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; (R.K.); (M.E.G.); (F.S.)
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; (S.L.B.); (H.L.)
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Ricci TA, Boonpattrawong N, Laher I, Devlin AM. Maternal nutrition and effects on offspring vascular function. Pflugers Arch 2023:10.1007/s00424-023-02807-x. [PMID: 37041303 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-023-02807-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Maternal nutrition during pregnancy may have profound effects on the developing fetus and impact risk for cardiovascular disease later in life. Here, we provide a narrative review on the impact of maternal diet during pregnancy on offspring vascular function. We review studies reporting effects of maternal micronutrient (folic acid, iron) intakes, high-fat diets, dietary energy restriction, and low protein intake on offspring endothelial function. We discuss the differences in study design and outcomes and potential underlying mechanisms contributing to the vascular phenotypes observed in the offspring. We further highlight key gaps in the literature and identify targets for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor A Ricci
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nicha Boonpattrawong
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ismail Laher
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Angela M Devlin
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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5
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Myocardial perfusion and function dichotomy in growth restricted preterm infants. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2023; 14:302-310. [PMID: 36408644 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174422000630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Compared to preterm appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses, fetuses with fetal growth restriction (FGR) have earlier visualisation of coronary artery blood flow (CABF) but impaired cardiac function. This dichotomy remains uncharacterised during postnatal life. This study compared CABF and cardiac function in preterm FGR infants, against AGA infants during the postnatal period. FGR was defined as birthweight < 10th centile for gestation and sex with absent/reversed antenatal umbilical artery Doppler. Diastolic CABF was measured in the left anterior descending coronary artery. Twenty-eight FGR infants were compared with 26 AGA infants (gestation and birthweight, 29.7 ± 1.3 vs 29.9 ± 1 weeks, P = 0.6 and 918 ± 174 vs 1398 ± 263g, P < 0.001, respectively). Echocardiography was performed in the second week of life. FGR infants had higher CABF (velocity time integral, 2.4 ± 0.9 vs 1.6 ± 0.8 cm, P = 0.002). Diastolic function was impaired (↑ trans-mitral E/A ratio in FGR infants; 0.84 ± 0.05 vs 0.79 ± 0.03, P = 0.0002) while the systolic function was also affected (mean velocity of circumferential fibre shortening [mVCFc], 1.9 ± 0.3 vs 2.7 ± 0.5 circ/s, P < 0.001). Indexing CABF to cardiac function noted significant differences between the groups (CABF: E/A [FGR vs AGA], 2.9 ± 1.1 vs 2.1 ± 1, P = 0.01 and CABF: mVCFc [FGR vs AGA], 1.3 ± 0.5 vs 0.6 ± 0.3, P < 0.001). Diastolic blood pressure (BP) was significantly higher, and CABF to diastolic BP ratio trended higher in FGR infants (30 ± 2 vs 25 ± 3 mmHg, P < 0.001 and 0.08 ± 0.03 vs 0.06 ± 0.03, P = 0.059, respectively). Greater CABF in FGR infants did not translate into better cardiac function. This dichotomy may be a persistent response to fetal hypoxaemia (fetal programming) and/or reflection of altered cardiac architecture.
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6
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Galli GLJ, Lock MC, Smith KLM, Giussani DA, Crossley DA. Effects of Developmental Hypoxia on the Vertebrate Cardiovascular System. Physiology (Bethesda) 2023; 38:0. [PMID: 36317939 DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00022.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Developmental hypoxia has profound and persistent effects on the vertebrate cardiovascular system, but the nature, magnitude, and long-term outcome of the hypoxic consequences are species specific. Here we aim to identify common and novel cardiovascular responses among vertebrates that encounter developmental hypoxia, and we discuss the possible medical and ecological implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina L J Galli
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Mitchell C Lock
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Kerri L M Smith
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Dino A Giussani
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Dane A Crossley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
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7
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The Long-Term Effects of Prenatal Hypoxia on Coronary Artery Function of the Male and Female Offspring. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10123019. [PMID: 36551775 PMCID: PMC9776081 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal hypoxia predisposes the offspring to the development of cardiovascular (CV) dysfunction in adult life. Using a rat model, we assessed the effect of prenatal hypoxia on vasoconstrictive and vasodilative mechanisms in left anterior descending coronary arteries of 4- and 9.5-month-old offspring. Endothelium-dependent relaxation to methylcholine and vasoconstriction responses to endothelin-1 (ET-1) were assessed by wire myography. Prenatal hypoxia impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation in 4- and 9.5-month-old offspring. Inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthase prevented coronary artery relaxation in all groups. Inhibition of prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS) improved relaxation in prenatally hypoxic males and tended to improve vasorelaxation in females, suggesting that impaired vasodilation was mediated via increased PGHS-dependent vasoconstriction. An enhanced contribution of endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization to coronary artery vasodilation was observed in prenatally hypoxic males and females. No changes in endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and PGHS-1 expressions were observed, while PGHS-2 expression was decreased in only prenatally hypoxic males. At 4 months, ET-1 responses were similar between groups, while ETB inhibition (with BQ788) tended to decrease ET-1-mediated responses in only prenatally hypoxic females. At 9.5 months, ET-1-mediated responses were decreased in only prenatally hypoxic females. Our data suggest that prenatal hypoxia has long-term similar effects on the mechanisms of impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation in coronary arteries from adult male and female offspring; however, coronary artery contractile capacity is impaired only in prenatally hypoxic females. Understanding the mechanistic pathways involved in the programming of CV disease may allow for the development of therapeutic interventions.
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8
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Folguieri MS, Franco ATB, Vieira AS, Gontijo JAR, Boer PA. Transcriptome and morphological analysis on the heart in gestational protein-restricted aging male rat offspring. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:892322. [DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.892322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Adverse factors that influence embryo/fetal development are correlated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), type-2 diabetes, arterial hypertension, obesity, insulin resistance, impaired kidney development, psychiatric disorders, and enhanced susceptibility to oxidative stress and inflammatory processes in adulthood. Human and experimental studies have demonstrated a reciprocal relationship between birthweight and cardiovascular diseases, implying intrauterine adverse events in the onset of these abnormalities. In this way, it is plausible that confirmed functional and morphological heart changes caused by gestational protein restriction could be related to epigenetic effects anticipating cardiovascular disorders and reducing the survival time of these animals.Methods: Wistar rats were divided into two groups according to the protein diet content offered during the pregnancy: a normal protein diet (NP, 17%) or a Low-protein diet (LP, 6%). The arterial pressure was measured, and the cardiac mass, cardiomyocytes area, gene expression, collagen content, and immunostaining of proteins were performed in the cardiac tissue of male 62-weeks old NP compared to LP offspring.Results: In the current study, we showed a low birthweight followed by catch-up growth phenomena associated with high blood pressure development, increased heart collagen content, and cardiomyocyte area in 62-week-old LP offspring. mRNA sequencing analysis identified changes in the expression level of 137 genes, considering genes with a p-value < 0.05. No gene was. Significantly changed according to the adj-p-value. After gene-to-gene biological evaluation and relevance, the study demonstrated significant differences in genes linked to inflammatory activity, oxidative stress, apoptosis process, autophagy, hypertrophy, and fibrosis pathways resulting in heart function disorders.Conclusion: The present study suggests that gestational protein restriction leads to early cardiac diseases in the LP progeny. It is hypothesized that heart dysfunction is associated with fibrosis, myocyte hypertrophy, and multiple abnormal gene expression. Considering the above findings, it may suppose a close link between maternal protein restriction, specific gene expression, and progressive heart failure.
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9
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Smith KLM, Swiderska A, Lock MC, Graham L, Iswari W, Choudhary T, Thomas D, Kowash HM, Desforges M, Cottrell EC, Trafford AW, Giussani DA, Galli GLJ. Chronic developmental hypoxia alters mitochondrial oxidative capacity and reactive oxygen species production in the fetal rat heart in a sex-dependent manner. J Pineal Res 2022; 73:e12821. [PMID: 35941749 PMCID: PMC9540814 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Insufficient oxygen supply (hypoxia) during fetal development leads to cardiac remodeling and a predisposition to cardiovascular disease in later life. Previous work has shown hypoxia causes oxidative stress in the fetal heart and alters the activity and expression of mitochondrial proteins in a sex-dependent manner. However, the functional effects of these modifications on mitochondrial respiration remain unknown. Furthermore, while maternal antioxidant treatments are emerging as a promising new strategy to protect the hypoxic fetus, whether these treatments convey similar protection to cardiac mitochondria in the male or female fetus has not been investigated. Therefore, using an established rat model, we measured the sex-dependent effects of gestational hypoxia and maternal melatonin treatment on fetal cardiac mitochondrial respiration, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and lipid peroxidation. Pregnant Wistar rats were subjected to normoxia or hypoxia (13% oxygen) during gestational days (GDs) 6-20 (term ~22 days) with or without melatonin treatment (5 µg/ml in maternal drinking water). On GD 20, mitochondrial aerobic respiration and H2 O2 production were measured in fetal heart tissue, together with lipid peroxidation and citrate synthase (CS) activity. Gestational hypoxia reduced maternal body weight gain (p < .01) and increased placental weight (p < .05) but had no effect on fetal weight or litter size. Cardiac mitochondria from male but not female fetuses of hypoxic pregnancy had reduced respiratory capacity at Complex II (CII) (p < .05), and an increase in H2 O2 production/O2 consumption (p < .05) without any changes in lipid peroxidation. CS activity was also unchanged in both sexes. Despite maternal melatonin treatment increasing maternal and fetal plasma melatonin concentration (p < .001), melatonin treatment had no effect on any of the mitochondrial parameters investigated. To conclude, we show that gestational hypoxia leads to ROS generation from the mitochondrial electron transport chain and affects fetal cardiac mitochondrial respiration in a sex-dependent manner. We also show that maternal melatonin treatment had no effect on these relationships, which has implications for the development of future therapies for hypoxic pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerri L. M. Smith
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Agnieszka Swiderska
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Mitchell C. Lock
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Lucia Graham
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Wulan Iswari
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Tashi Choudhary
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Donna Thomas
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Hager M. Kowash
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Michelle Desforges
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Elizabeth C. Cottrell
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Andrew W. Trafford
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Dino A. Giussani
- Department of Physiology Development and NeuroscienceUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Gina L. J. Galli
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
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Hula N, Vu J, Quon A, Kirschenman R, Spaans F, Liu R, Cooke CLM, Davidge ST. Sex-Specific Effects of Prenatal Hypoxia on the Cardiac Endothelin System in Adult Offspring. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2022; 322:H442-H450. [PMID: 35119336 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00636.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Fetal hypoxia, a major consequence of complicated pregnancies, impairs offspring cardiac tolerance to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) insult, however, the mechanisms remain unknown. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) signaling through the endothelin A receptors (ETA) is associated with cardiac dysfunction. We hypothesized that prenatal hypoxia exacerbates cardiac susceptibility to I/R via increased ET-1 and ETA levels, while ETA inhibition ameliorates this. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to normoxia (21% O2) or hypoxia (11% O2) on gestational days 15-21. Offspring were aged to 4 months, and hearts were aerobically perfused or subjected to ex vivo I/R, with or without pre-infusion with an ETA antagonist (ABT-627). ET-1 levels were assessed with ELISA in aerobically perfused and post-I/R left ventricles (LV). ETA and ETB levels were assessed by Western blotting in non-perfused LV. As hypothesized, ABT-627 infusion tended to improve post-I/R recovery in hypoxic females (p=0.0528), however, surprisingly, ABT-627 prevented post-I/R recovery only in the hypoxic males (p<0.001). ET-1 levels were increased in post-I/R LV in both sexes regardless of the prenatal exposure (p<0.01). ETA expression was similar among all groups, while ETB (isoform C) levels were decreased in prenatally hypoxic females (p<0.05). In prenatally hypoxic males, ETA signaling may be essential for tolerance to I/R, while in prenatally hypoxic females, ETA may contribute to cardiac dysfunction. Our data illustrate that understanding the prenatal history has critical implications for treatment strategies in adult chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataliia Hula
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jennie Vu
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Anita Quon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Raven Kirschenman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Floor Spaans
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Ricky Liu
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Christy-Lynn M Cooke
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Sandra T Davidge
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Maréchal L, Sicotte B, Caron V, Brochu M, Tremblay A. Fetal Cardiac Lipid Sensing Triggers an Early and Sex-related Metabolic Energy Switch in Intrauterine Growth Restriction. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106:3295-3311. [PMID: 34245263 PMCID: PMC8530737 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is an immediate outcome of an adverse womb environment, exposing newborns to developing cardiometabolic disorders later in life. OBJECTIVE This study investigates the cardiac metabolic consequences and underlying mechanism of energy expenditure in developing fetuses under conditions of IUGR. METHODS Using an animal model of IUGR characterized by uteroplacental vascular insufficiency, mitochondrial function, gene profiling, lipidomic analysis, and transcriptional assay were determined in fetal cardiac tissue and cardiomyocytes. RESULTS IUGR fetuses exhibited an upregulation of key genes associated with fatty acid breakdown and β-oxidation (Acadvl, Acadl, Acaa2), and mitochondrial carnitine shuttle (Cpt1a, Cpt2), instigating a metabolic gene reprogramming in the heart. Induction of Ech1, Acox1, Acox3, Acsl1, and Pex11a indicated a coordinated interplay with peroxisomal β-oxidation and biogenesis mainly observed in females, suggesting sexual dimorphism in peroxisomal activation. Concurring with the sex-related changes, mitochondrial respiration rates were stronger in IUGR female fetal cardiomyocytes, accounting for enhanced adenosine 5'-triphosphate production. Mitochondrial biogenesis was induced in fetal hearts with elevated expression of Ppargc1a transcript specifically in IUGR females. Lipidomic analysis identified the accumulation of arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosapentaenoic polyunsaturated long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) in IUGR fetal hearts, which leads to nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) transcriptional activation in cardiomyocytes. Also, the enrichment of H3K27ac chromatin marks to PPARα-responsive metabolic genes in IUGR fetal hearts outlines an epigenetic control in the early metabolic energy switch. CONCLUSION This study describes a premature and sex-related remodeling of cardiac metabolism in response to an unfavorable intrauterine environment, with specific LCFAs that may serve as predictive effectors leading to IUGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loïze Maréchal
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada
- Research Center, CHU Ste-Justine, Montréal, Quebec H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Benoit Sicotte
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Véronique Caron
- Research Center, CHU Ste-Justine, Montréal, Quebec H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Michèle Brochu
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - André Tremblay
- Research Center, CHU Ste-Justine, Montréal, Quebec H3T 1C5, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction et Fertilité, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec J2S 2M2, Canada
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12
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Lee K, Hardy DB. Metabolic Consequences of Gestational Cannabinoid Exposure. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9528. [PMID: 34502436 PMCID: PMC8430813 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Up to 20% of pregnant women ages 18-24 consume cannabis during pregnancy. Moreover, clinical studies indicate that cannabis consumption during pregnancy leads to fetal growth restriction (FGR), which is associated with an increased risk of obesity, type II diabetes (T2D), and cardiovascular disease in the offspring. This is of great concern considering that the concentration of Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), a major psychoactive component of cannabis, has doubled over the last decade and can readily cross the placenta and enter fetal circulation, with the potential to negatively impact fetal development via the endocannabinoid (eCB) system. Cannabis exposure in utero could also lead to FGR via placental insufficiency. In this review, we aim to examine current pre-clinical and clinical findings on the direct effects of exposure to cannabis and its constituents on fetal development as well as indirect effects, namely placental insufficiency, on postnatal metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendrick Lee
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada;
- The Children’s Health Research Institute, The Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Daniel B. Hardy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada;
- The Children’s Health Research Institute, The Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
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13
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Prenatal hypoxia affects scaling of blood pressure and arterial wall mechanics in the common snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2021; 260:111023. [PMID: 34224856 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.111023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In reptiles, exposure to hypoxia during embryonic development affects several cardiovascular parameters. These modifications may impose different mechanical stress to the arterial system, and we speculated that the arterial wall of major outflow vessels would be modified accordingly. Since non-crocodilian reptiles possess a partially divided ventricle, ensuing similar systemic and pulmonary systolic pressures, we investigated how morphological and mechanical properties of segments from the left aortic arch (LAo) and the proximal and distal segments of the left pulmonary artery (LPAp and LPAd, respectively) change as body mass (Mb) increases. Eggs from common snapping turtles, Chelydra serpentina, were incubated under normoxia (21% O2; N21) or hypoxia (10% O2; H10), hatched and maintained in normoxia thereafter. Turtles (0.11-6.85 kg) were cannulated to measure arterial pressures, and an injection of adrenaline was used to increase pressures. Portions of the LAo, LPAp and LPAd were fixed under physiological hydrostatic pressures for histology and mechanical assessment. Arterial pressures increased with Mb for N21 but not for H10. Although mechanical and functional characteristics from the LPAp and LPAd were similar between N21 and H10, wall thickness from LAo did not change with Mb in the H10 group, thus wall stress increased in larger turtles. This indicates that larger H10 turtles probably experience an elevated probability of arterial wall rupture without concomitant changes in the cardiovascular system to prevent it. Finally, collagen content of the LPAp and LAo was smaller than in LPAd, suggesting a more distensible arterial wall could attenuate higher pressures from larger turtles.
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14
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Implication of RAS in Postnatal Cardiac Remodeling, Fibrosis and Dysfunction Induced by Fetal Undernutrition. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 2021; 28:273-290. [PMID: 35366262 PMCID: PMC8830479 DOI: 10.3390/pathophysiology28020018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Fetal undernutrition is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Male offspring from rats exposed to undernutrition during gestation (MUN) exhibit oxidative stress during perinatal life and develop cardiac dysfunction in ageing. Angiotensin-II is implicated in oxidative stress-mediated cardiovascular fibrosis and remodeling, and lactation is a key developmental window. We aimed to assess if alterations in RAS during lactation participate in cardiac dysfunction associated with fetal undernutrition. Control dams received food ad libitum, and MUN had 50% nutrient restriction during the second half of gestation. Both dams were fed ad libitum during lactation, and male offspring were studied at weaning. We assessed: ventricular structure and function (echocardiography); blood pressure (intra-arterially, anesthetized rats); collagen content and intramyocardial artery structure (Sirius red, Masson Trichromic); myocardial and intramyocardial artery RAS receptors (immunohistochemistry); plasma angiotensin-II (ELISA) and TGF-β1 protein expression (Western Blot). Compared to Control, MUN offspring exhibited significantly higher plasma Angiotensin-II and a larger left ventricular mass, as well as larger intramyocardial artery media/lumen, interstitial collagen and perivascular collagen. In MUN hearts, TGF-β1 tended to be higher, and the end-diastolic diameter and E/A ratio were significantly lower with no differences in ejection fraction or blood pressure. In the myocardium, no differences between groups were detected in AT1, AT2 or Mas receptors, with MrgD being significantly lower in the MUN group. In intramyocardial arteries from MUN rats, AT1 and Mas receptors were significantly elevated, while AT2 and MrgD were lower compared to Control. Conclusions. In rats exposed to fetal undernutrition, RAS disbalance and associated cardiac remodeling during lactation may set the basis for later heart dysfunction.
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15
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Maternal diet high in linoleic acid alters offspring fatty acids and cardiovascular function in a rat model. Br J Nutr 2021; 127:540-553. [PMID: 33858529 DOI: 10.1017/s0007114521001276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Linoleic acid (LA), an essential n-6 fatty acid (FA), is critical for fetal development. We investigated the effects of maternal high LA (HLA) diet on offspring cardiac development and its relationship to circulating FA and cardiovascular function in adolescent offspring, and the ability of the postnatal diet to reverse any adverse effects. Female Wistar Kyoto rats were fed low LA (LLA; 1·44 % energy from LA) or high LA (HLA; 6·21 % energy from LA) diets for 10 weeks before pregnancy and during gestation/lactation. Offspring, weaned at postnatal day 25, were fed LLA or HLA diets and euthanised at postnatal day 40 (n 6-8). Maternal HLA diet decreased circulating total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in females and decreased total plasma n-3 FA in males, while maternal and postnatal HLA diets decreased total plasma n-3 FA in females. α-Linolenic acid (ALA) and EPA were decreased by postnatal but not maternal HLA diets in both sexes. Maternal and postnatal HLA diets increased total plasma n-6 and LA, and a maternal HLA diet increased circulating leptin, in both male and female offspring. Maternal HLA decreased slopes of systolic and diastolic pressure-volume relationship (PVR), and increased cardiac Col1a1, Col3a1, Atp2a1 and Notch1 in males. Maternal and postnatal HLA diets left-shifted the diastolic PVR in female offspring. Coronary reactivity was altered in females, with differential effects on flow repayment after occlusion. Thus, maternal HLA diets impact lipids, FA and cardiac function in offspring, with postnatal diet modifying FA and cardiac function in the female offspring.
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16
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Insights into intrauterine growth restriction based on maternal and umbilical cord blood metabolomics. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7824. [PMID: 33837233 PMCID: PMC8035183 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87323-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a fetal adverse condition, ascribed by limited oxygen and nutrient supply from the mother to the fetus. Management of IUGR is an ongoing challenge because of its connection with increased fetal mortality, preterm delivery and postnatal pathologies. Untargeted nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) metabolomics was applied in 84 umbilical cord blood and maternal blood samples obtained from 48 IUGR and 36 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) deliveries. Orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) followed by pathway and enrichment analysis generated classification models and revealed significant metabolites that were associated with altered pathways. A clear association between maternal and cord blood altered metabolomic profile was evidenced in IUGR pregnancies. Increased levels of the amino acids alanine, leucine, valine, isoleucine and phenylalanine were prominent in IUGR pregnancies indicating a connection with impaired amino acid metabolism and transplacental flux. Tryptophan was individually connected with cord blood discrimination while 3-hydroxybutyrate assisted only maternal blood discrimination. Lower glycerol levels in IUGR samples ascribed to imbalance between gluconeogenesis and glycolysis pathways, suggesting poor glycolysis. The elevated levels of branched chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine) in intrauterine growth restricted pregnancies were linked with increased insulin resistance.
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17
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Developmental programming of cardiovascular function: a translational perspective. Clin Sci (Lond) 2021; 134:3023-3046. [PMID: 33231619 DOI: 10.1042/cs20191210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) is a concept linking pre- and early postnatal exposures to environmental influences with long-term health outcomes and susceptibility to disease. It has provided a new perspective on the etiology and evolution of chronic disease risk, and as such is a classic example of a paradigm shift. What first emerged as the 'fetal origins of disease', the evolution of the DOHaD conceptual framework is a storied one in which preclinical studies played an important role. With its potential clinical applications of DOHaD, there is increasing desire to leverage this growing body of preclinical work to improve health outcomes in populations all over the world. In this review, we provide a perspective on the values and limitations of preclinical research, and the challenges that impede its translation. The review focuses largely on the developmental programming of cardiovascular function and begins with a brief discussion on the emergence of the 'Barker hypothesis', and its subsequent evolution into the more-encompassing DOHaD framework. We then discuss some fundamental pathophysiological processes by which developmental programming may occur, and attempt to define these as 'instigator' and 'effector' mechanisms, according to their role in early adversity. We conclude with a brief discussion of some notable challenges that hinder the translation of this preclinical work.
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18
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Coats LE, Bakrania BA, Bamrick-Fernandez DR, Ariatti AM, Rawls AZ, Ojeda NB, Alexander BT. Soluble guanylate cyclase stimulation in late gestation does not mitigate asymmetric intrauterine growth restriction or cardiovascular risk induced by placental ischemia in the rat. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2021; 320:H1923-H1934. [PMID: 33739156 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00033.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) improves fetal growth at gestational day 20 in the reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) rat model of placental ischemia suggesting a role for sGC in the etiology of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This study tested the hypothesis that stimulation of sGC until birth attenuates asymmetric IUGR mitigating increased cardiovascular risk in offspring. Sham or RUPP surgery was performed at gestational day 14 (G14); vehicle or the sGC stimulator Riociguat (10 mg/kg/day sc) was administered G14 until birth. Birth weight was reduced in offspring from RUPP [intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR)], sGC RUPP (sGC IUGR), and sGC Sham (sGC Control) compared with Sham (Control). Crown circumference was maintained, but abdominal circumference was reduced in IUGR and sGC IUGR compared with Control indicative of asymmetrical growth. Gestational length was prolonged in sGC RUPP, and survival at birth was reduced in sGC IUGR. Probability of survival to postnatal day 2 was also significantly reduced in IUGR and sGC IUGR versus Control and in sGC IUGR versus IUGR. At 4 mo of age, blood pressure was increased in male IUGR and sGC IUGR but not male sGC Control born with symmetrical IUGR. Global longitudinal strain was increased and stroke volume was decreased in male IUGR and sGC IUGR compared with Control. Thus late gestational stimulation of sGC does not mitigate asymmetric IUGR or increased cardiovascular risk in male sGC IUGR. Furthermore, late gestational stimulation of sGC is associated with symmetrical growth restriction in sGC Control implicating contraindications in normal pregnancy.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The importance of the soluble guanylate cyclase-cGMP pathway in a rat model of placental ischemia differs during critical windows of development, implicating other factors may be critical mediators of impaired fetal growth in the final stages of gestation. Moreover, increased blood pressure at 4 mo of age in male intrauterine growth restriction offspring is associated with impaired cardiac function including an increase in global longitudinal strain in conjunction with a decrease in stroke volume, ejection fraction, and cardiac output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Coats
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - Bhavisha A Bakrania
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi.,The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research and Perinatal Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Allison M Ariatti
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - Adam Z Rawls
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - Norma B Ojeda
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - Barbara T Alexander
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
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19
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Hula N, Spaans F, Vu J, Quon A, Kirschenman R, Cooke CLM, Phillips TJ, Case CP, Davidge ST. Placental treatment improves cardiac tolerance to ischemia/reperfusion insult in adult male and female offspring exposed to prenatal hypoxia. Pharmacol Res 2021; 165:105461. [PMID: 33513355 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Offspring born from complicated pregnancies are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Prenatal hypoxia is a common pregnancy complication that results in placental oxidative stress and impairs fetal development. Adult offspring exposed to hypoxia during fetal life are more susceptible to develop cardiac dysfunction, and show decreased cardiac tolerance to an ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) insult. To improve offspring cardiac outcomes, we have assessed the use of a placenta-targeted intervention during hypoxic pregnancies, by encapsulating the mitochondrial antioxidant MitoQ into nanoparticles (nMitoQ). We hypothesized that maternal nMitoQ treatment during hypoxic pregnancies improves cardiac tolerance to I/R insult in adult male and female offspring. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to normoxia (21 % O2) or hypoxia (11 % O2) from gestational day 15-20, after injection with 100 μL saline or nMitoQ (125 μM) on GD15 (n=6-8/group). Male and female offspring were aged to 4 months. Both male and female offspring from hypoxic pregnancies showed reduced cardiac tolerance to I/R (assessed ex vivo using the isolated working heart technique) which was ameliorated by nMitoQ treatment. To identify potential molecular mechanisms for the changes in cardiac tolerance to I/R, cardiac levels/phosphorylation of proteins important for intracellular Ca2+ cycling were assessed with Western blotting. In prenatally hypoxic male offspring, improved cardiac recovery from I/R by nMitoQ was accompanied by increased cardiac phospholamban and phosphatase 2Ce levels, and a trend to decreased Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIδ phosphorylation. In contrast, in female offspring, nMitoQ treatment in hypoxic pregnancies increased phospholamban and protein kinase Cε phosphorylation. Maternal nMitoQ treatment improves cardiac tolerance to I/R insult in adult offspring and thus has the potential to improve the later-life trajectory of cardiovascular health of adult offspring born from pregnancies complicated by prenatal hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataliia Hula
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2S2, Alberta, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2S2, Alberta, Canada; Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2S2, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Floor Spaans
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2S2, Alberta, Canada; Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2S2, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Jennie Vu
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2S2, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Anita Quon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2S2, Alberta, Canada; Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2S2, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Raven Kirschenman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2S2, Alberta, Canada; Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2S2, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Christy-Lynn M Cooke
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2S2, Alberta, Canada; Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2S2, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Tom J Phillips
- Dementia Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK.
| | - C Patrick Case
- Musculoskeletal Research Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS10 5NB, UK.
| | - Sandra T Davidge
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2S2, Alberta, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2S2, Alberta, Canada; Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2S2, Alberta, Canada.
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20
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Echocardiographic assessment of fetal cardiac function in the uterine artery ligation rat model of IUGR. Pediatr Res 2021; 90:801-808. [PMID: 33504964 PMCID: PMC8566221 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-020-01356-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) leads to cardiac dysfunction and adverse remodeling of the fetal heart, as well as a higher risk of postnatal cardiovascular diseases. The rat model of IUGR, via uterine artery ligation, is a popular model but its cardiac sequelae is not well investigated. Here, we performed an echocardiographic evaluation of its cardiac function to determine how well it can represent the disease in humans. METHODS Unilateral uterine artery ligation was performed at embryonic day 17 (E17) and echocardiography was performed at E19 and E20. RESULTS Growth-restricted fetuses were significantly smaller and lighter, and had an higher placenta-to-fetus weight ratio. Growth-restricted fetal hearts had reduced wall thickness-to-diameter ratio, indicating left ventricular (LV) dilatation, and they had elevated trans-mitral and trans-tricuspid E/A ratios and reduced left and right ventricular fractional shortening (FS), suggesting systolic and diastolic dysfunction. These were similar to human IUGR fetuses. However, growth-restricted rat fetuses did not demonstrate head-sparing effect, displayed a lower LV myocardial performance index, and ventricular outflow velocities were not significantly reduced, which were dissimilar to human IUGR fetuses. CONCLUSIONS Despite the differences, our results suggest that this IUGR model has significant cardiac dysfunction, and could be a suitable model for studying IUGR cardiovascular physiology. IMPACT Animal models of IUGR are useful, but their fetal cardiac function is not well studied, and it is unclear if they can represent human IUGR fetuses. We performed an echocardiographic assessment of the heart function of a fetal rat model of IUGR, created via maternal uterine artery ligation. Similar to humans, the model displayed LV dilatation, elevated E/A ratios, and reduced FS. Different from humans, the model displayed reduced MPI, and no significant outflow velocity reduction. Despite differences with humans, this rat model still displayed cardiac dysfunction and is suitable for studying IUGR cardiovascular physiology.
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21
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Lee K, Laviolette SR, Hardy DB. Exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol during rat pregnancy leads to impaired cardiac dysfunction in postnatal life. Pediatr Res 2021; 90:532-539. [PMID: 33879850 PMCID: PMC8519775 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-021-01511-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabis use in pregnancy leads to fetal growth restriction (FGR), but the long-term effects on cardiac function in the offspring are unknown, despite the fact that fetal growth deficits are associated with an increased risk of developing postnatal cardiovascular disease. We hypothesize that maternal exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) during pregnancy will impair fetal development, leading to cardiac dysfunction in the offspring. METHODS Pregnant Wistar rats were randomly selected and administered 3 mg/kg of Δ9-THC or saline as a vehicle daily via intraperitoneal injection from gestational days 6 to 22, followed by echocardiogram analysis of cardiac function on offspring at postnatal days 1 and 21. Heart tissue was harvested from the offspring at 3 weeks for molecular analysis of cardiac remodelling. RESULTS Exposure to Δ9-THC during pregnancy led to FGR with a significant decrease in heart-to-body weight ratios at birth. By 3 weeks, pups exhibited catch-up growth associated with significantly greater left ventricle anterior wall thickness with a decrease in cardiac output. Moreover, these Δ9-THC-exposed offsprings exhibited increased expression of collagen I and III, decreased matrix metallopeptidase-2 expression, and increased inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β, all associated with cardiac remodelling. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, these data suggest that Δ9-THC-exposed FGR offspring undergo postnatal catch-up growth concomitant with cardiac remodelling and impaired cardiac function early in life. IMPACT To date, the long-term effects of perinatal Δ9-THC (the main psychoactive component) exposure on the cardiac function in the offspring remain unknown. We demonstrated, for the first time, that exposure to Δ9-THC alone during rat pregnancy results in significantly smaller hearts relative to body weight. These Δ9-THC-exposed offsprings exhibited postnatal catch-up growth concomitant with cardiac remodelling and impaired cardiac function. Given the increased popularity of cannabis use in pregnancy along with rising Δ9-THC concentrations, this study, for the first time, identifies the risk of perinatal Δ9-THC exposure on early postnatal cardiovascular health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendrick Lee
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON Canada
| | - Steven R. Laviolette
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Western University, London, ON Canada
| | - Daniel B. Hardy
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON Canada ,grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Children’s Health Research Institute, Lawson, Health Research Institute, Western University, London, ON Canada
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22
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Ganguly E, Spaans F, Morton JS, Kirschenman R, Aljunaidy MM, Phillips TEJ, Case CP, Cooke CLM, Davidge ST. Placenta-targeted treatment in hypoxic dams improves maturation and growth of fetal cardiomyocytes in vitro via the release of placental factors. Exp Physiol 2020; 105:1507-1514. [PMID: 32749725 DOI: 10.1113/ep088799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
NEW FINDINGS What is the central question of this study? Does treatment of hypoxic dams with a placenta-targeted antioxidant prevent the release of placenta-derived factors that impair maturation or growth of fetal cardiomyocytes in vitro? What is the main finding and its importance? Factors released from hypoxic placentae impaired fetal cardiomyocyte maturation (induced terminal differentiation) and growth (increased cell size) in vitro, which was prevented by maternal treatment with a placenta-targeted antioxidant (nMitoQ). Moreover, there were no sex differences in the effects of placental factors on fetal cardiomyocyte maturation and growth. Overall, our data suggest that treatment targeted against placental oxidative stress could prevent fetal programming of cardiac diseases via the release of placental factors. ABSTRACT Pregnancy complications associated with placental oxidative stress may impair fetal organ development through the release of placenta-derived factors into the fetal circulation. We assessed the effect of factors secreted from placentae previously exposed to prenatal hypoxia on fetal cardiomyocyte development and developed a treatment strategy that targets placental oxidative stress by encapsulating the antioxidant MitoQ into nanoparticles (nMitoQ). We used a rat model of prenatal hypoxia (gestational day (GD) 15-21), which was treated with saline or nMitoQ on GD15. On GD21, placentae were harvested, placed in culture, and conditioned medium (containing placenta-derived factors) was collected after 24 h. This conditioned medium was then added to cultured cardiomyocytes from control dam fetuses. Conditioned medium from prenatally hypoxic placentae increased the percentage of binucleated cardiomyocytes (marker of terminal differentiation) and the size of mononucleated and binucleated cardiomyocytes (sign of hypertrophy), effects that were prevented by nMitoQ treatment. Our data suggest that factors derived from placentae previously exposed to prenatal hypoxia lead to abnormal fetal cardiomyocyte development, and show that treatment against placental oxidative stress may prevent fetal programming of cardiac disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esha Ganguly
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Floor Spaans
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jude S Morton
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Raven Kirschenman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mais M Aljunaidy
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - C Patrick Case
- Musculoskeletal Research Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Christy-Lynn M Cooke
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sandra T Davidge
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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23
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Skeffington KL, Beck C, Itani N, Niu Y, Shaw CJ, Giussani DA. Hypertension Programmed in Adult Hens by Isolated Effects of Developmental Hypoxia In Ovo. Hypertension 2020; 76:533-544. [PMID: 32536277 PMCID: PMC7340221 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.120.15045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
In mammals, pregnancy complicated by chronic hypoxia can program hypertension in the adult offspring. However, mechanisms remain uncertain because the partial contributions of the challenge on the placenta, mother, and fetus are difficult to disentangle. Here, we used chronic hypoxia in the chicken embryo-an established model system that permits isolation of the direct effects of developmental hypoxia on the cardiovascular system of the offspring, independent of additional effects on the mother or the placenta. Fertilized chicken eggs were exposed to normoxia (N; 21% O2) or hypoxia (H; 13.5%-14% O2) from the start of incubation (day 0) until day 19 (hatching, ≈day 21). Following hatching, all birds were maintained under normoxic conditions until ≈6 months of adulthood. Hypoxic incubation increased hematocrit (+27%) in the chicken embryo and induced asymmetrical growth restriction (body weight, -8.6%; biparietal diameter/body weight ratio, +7.5%) in the hatchlings (all P<0.05). At adulthood (181±4 days), chickens from hypoxic incubations remained smaller (body weight, -7.5%) and showed reduced basal and stimulated in vivo NO bioavailability (pressor response to NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, -43%; phenylephrine pressor response during NO blockade, -61%) with significant hypertension (mean arterial blood pressure, +18%), increased cardiac work (ejection fraction, +12%; fractional shortening, +25%; enhanced baroreflex gain, +456%), and left ventricular wall thickening (left ventricular wall volume, +36%; all P<0.05). Therefore, we show that chronic hypoxia can act directly on a developing embryo to program hypertension, cardiovascular dysfunction, and cardiac wall remodeling in adulthood in the absence of any maternal or placental effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie L. Skeffington
- From the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (K.L.S., C.B., N.I., Y.N., C.J.S., D.A.G.)
| | - Christian Beck
- From the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (K.L.S., C.B., N.I., Y.N., C.J.S., D.A.G.)
| | - Nozomi Itani
- From the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (K.L.S., C.B., N.I., Y.N., C.J.S., D.A.G.)
| | - Youguo Niu
- From the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (K.L.S., C.B., N.I., Y.N., C.J.S., D.A.G.)
| | - Caroline J. Shaw
- From the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (K.L.S., C.B., N.I., Y.N., C.J.S., D.A.G.),Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, United Kingdom (C.J.S.)
| | - Dino A. Giussani
- From the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (K.L.S., C.B., N.I., Y.N., C.J.S., D.A.G.)
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24
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Ostadal B, Ostadalova I, Szarszoi O, Netuka I, Olejnickova V, Hlavackova M. Sex-dependent effect of perinatal hypoxia on cardiac tolerance to oxygen deprivation in adults. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2020; 99:1-8. [PMID: 32687731 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2020-0310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a relationship between the adverse influence of perinatal development and increased risk of ischemic heart disease in adults. From negative factors to which the fetus is subjected, the most important is hypoxia. The fetus may experience hypoxic stress under different conditions, including pregnancy at high altitude, pregnancy with anemia, placental insufficiency, and heart, lung, and kidney disease. One of the most common insults during the early stages of postnatal development is hypoxemia due to congenital cyanotic heart defects. Experimental studies have demonstrated a link between early hypoxia and increased risk of ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R) in adults. Furthermore, it has been observed that late myocardial effects of chronic hypoxia, experienced in early life, may be sex-dependent. Unlike in males, perinatal hypoxia significantly increased cardiac tolerance to acute I/R injury in adult females, expressed as decreased infarct size and lower incidence of ischemic arrhythmias. It was suggested that early hypoxia may result in sex-dependent programming of specific genes in the offspring with the consequence of increased cardiac susceptibility to I/R injury in adult males. These results would have important clinical implications, since cardiac sensitivity to oxygen deprivation in adult patients may be significantly influenced by perinatal hypoxia in a sex-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Ostadal
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - I Ostadalova
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - O Szarszoi
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - I Netuka
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - V Olejnickova
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.,Institute of Anatomy, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - M Hlavackova
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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25
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Xue Q, Chen F, Zhang H, Liu Y, Chen P, Patterson AJ, Luo J. Maternal high-fat diet alters angiotensin II receptors and causes changes in fetal and neonatal rats†. Biol Reprod 2020; 100:1193-1203. [PMID: 30596890 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal high-fat diet (HFD) during pregnancy is linked to cardiovascular diseases in postnatal life. The current study tested the hypothesis that maternal HFD causes myocardial changes through angiotensin II receptor (AGTR) expression modulation in fetal and neonatal rat hearts. The control group of pregnant rats was fed a normal diet and the treatment group of pregnant rats was on a HFD (60% kcal fat). Hearts were isolated from embryonic day 21 fetuses (E21) and postnatal day 7 pups (PD7). Maternal HFD decreased the body weight of the offspring in both E21 and PD7. The ratio of heart weight to body weight was increased in E21, but not PD7, when compared to the control group. Transmission electron microscopy revealed disorganized myofibrils and effacement of mitochondria cristae in the treatment group. Maternal HFD decreased S-phase and increased G1-phase of the cellular cycle for fetal and neonatal cardiac cells. Molecular markers of cardiac hypertrophy, such as Nppa and Myh7, were found to be increased in the treatment group. There was an associated increase in Agtr2 mRNA and protein, whereas Agtr1a mRNA and AGTR1 protein were decreased in HFD fetal and neonatal hearts. Furthermore, maternal HFD decreased glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) binding to glucocorticoid response elements at the Agtr1a and Agtr2 promoter, which correlated with downregulation of GR in fetal and neonatal hearts. These findings suggest that maternal HFD may promote premature termination of fetal and neonatal cardiomyocyte proliferation and compensatory hypertrophy through intrauterine modulation of AGTR1 and AGTR2 expression via GR dependent mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Xue
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, PR China.,Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510260, PR China
| | - Fangyuan Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, PR China
| | - Haichuan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, PR China
| | - Yinghua Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, PR China.,Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510260, PR China
| | - Pinxian Chen
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, PR China
| | - Andrew J Patterson
- University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Jiandong Luo
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, PR China.,Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510260, PR China
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26
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Cargill KR, Chiba T, Murali A, Mukherjee E, Crinzi E, Sims-Lucas S. Prenatal hypoxia increases susceptibility to kidney injury. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0229618. [PMID: 32084244 PMCID: PMC7034911 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal hypoxia is a gestational stressor that can result in developmental abnormalities or physiological reprogramming, and often decreases cellular capacity against secondary stress. When a developing fetus is exposed to hypoxia, blood flow is preferentially redirected to vital organs including the brain and heart over other organs including the kidney. Hypoxia-induced injury can lead to structural malformations in the kidney; however, even in the absence of structural lesions, hypoxia can physiologically reprogram the kidney leading to decreased function or increased susceptibility to injury. Our investigation in mice reveals that while prenatal hypoxia does not affect normal development of the kidneys, it primes the kidneys to have an increased susceptibility to kidney injury later in life. We found that our model does not develop structural abnormalities when prenatally exposed to modest 12% O2 as evident by normal histological characterization and gene expression analysis. Further, adult renal structure and function is comparable to mice exposed to ambient oxygen throughout nephrogenesis. However, after induction of kidney injury with a nephrotoxin (cisplatin), the offspring of mice housed in hypoxia exhibit significantly reduced renal function and proximal tubule damage following injury. We conclude that exposure to prenatal hypoxia in utero physiologically reprograms the kidneys leading to increased susceptibility to injury later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasey R. Cargill
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Takuto Chiba
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Anjana Murali
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Elina Mukherjee
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Crinzi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Sunder Sims-Lucas
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Frasch MG, Herry CL, Niu Y, Giussani DA. First evidence that intrinsic fetal heart rate variability exists and is affected by hypoxic pregnancy. J Physiol 2020; 598:249-263. [PMID: 31802494 DOI: 10.1113/jp278773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS We introduce a technique to test whether intrinsic fetal heart rate variability (iFHRV) exists and we show the utility of the technique by testing the hypothesis that iFHRV is affected by chronic fetal hypoxia, one of the most common adverse outcomes of human pregnancy complicated by fetal growth restriction. Using an established late gestation ovine model of fetal development under chronic hypoxic conditions, we identify iFHRV in isolated fetal hearts and show that it is markedly affected by hypoxic pregnancy. Therefore, the isolated fetal heart has intrinsic variability and carries a memory of adverse intrauterine conditions experienced during the last third of pregnancy. ABSTRACT Fetal heart rate variability (FHRV) emerges from influences of the autonomic nervous system, fetal body and breathing movements, and from baroreflex and circadian processes. We tested whether intrinsic heart rate variability (iHRV), devoid of any external influences, exists in the fetal period and whether it is affected by chronic fetal hypoxia. Chronically catheterized ewes carrying male singleton fetuses were exposed to normoxia (n = 6) or hypoxia (10% inspired O2 , n = 9) for the last third of gestation (105-138 days of gestation (dG); term ∼145 dG) in isobaric chambers. At 138 dG, isolated hearts were studied using a Langendorff preparation. We calculated basal intrinsic FHRV (iFHRV) indices reflecting iFHRV's variability, predictability, temporal symmetry, fractality and chaotic behaviour, from the systolic peaks within 15 min segments in each heart. Significance was assumed at P < 0.05. Hearts of fetuses isolated from hypoxic pregnancy showed approximately 4-fold increases in the Grid transformation as well as the AND similarity index (sgridAND) and a 4-fold reduction in the scale-dependent Lyapunov exponent slope. We also detected a 2-fold reduction in the Recurrence quantification analysis, percentage of laminarity (pL) and recurrences, maximum and average diagonal line (dlmax, dlmean) and the Multiscale time irreversibility asymmetry index. The iHRV measures dlmax, dlmean, pL and sgridAND correlated with left ventricular end-diastolic pressure across both groups (average R2 = 0.38 ± 0.03). This is the first evidence that iHRV originates in fetal life and that chronic fetal hypoxia significantly alters it. Isolated fetal hearts from hypoxic pregnancy exhibit a time scale-dependent higher complexity in iFHRV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin G Frasch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Christophe L Herry
- Dynamical Analysis Laboratory, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Youguo Niu
- Department of Physiology Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Dino A Giussani
- Department of Physiology Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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28
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Kumar P, Morton JS, Shah A, Do V, Sergi C, Serrano‐Lomelin J, Davidge ST, Beker D, Levasseur J, Hornberger LK. Intrauterine exposure to chronic hypoxia in the rat leads to progressive diastolic function and increased aortic stiffness from early postnatal developmental stages. Physiol Rep 2020; 8:e14327. [PMID: 31960611 PMCID: PMC6971413 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.14327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM We sought to explore whether fetal hypoxia exposure, an insult of placental insufficiency, is associated with left ventricular dysfunction and increased aortic stiffness at early postnatal ages. METHODS Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to hypoxic conditions (11.5% FiO2 ) from embryonic day E15-21 or normoxic conditions (controls). After delivery, left ventricular function and aortic pulse wave velocity (measure of aortic stiffness) were assessed longitudinally by echocardiography from day 1 through week 8. A mixed ANOVA with repeated measures was performed to compare findings between groups across time. Myocardial hematoxylin and eosin and picro-sirius staining were performed to evaluate myocyte nuclear shape and collagen fiber characteristics, respectively. RESULTS Systolic function parameters transiently increased following hypoxia exposure primarily at week 2 (p < .008). In contrast, diastolic dysfunction progressed following fetal hypoxia exposure beginning weeks 1-2 with lower early inflow Doppler velocities, and less of an increase in early to late inflow velocity ratios and annular and septal E'/A' tissue velocities compared to controls (p < .008). As further evidence of altered diastolic function, isovolumetric relaxation time was significantly shorter relative to the cardiac cycle following hypoxia exposure from week 1 onward (p < .008). Aortic stiffness was greater following hypoxia from day 1 through week 8 (p < .008, except week 4). Hypoxia exposure was also associated with altered nuclear shape at week 2 and increased collagen fiber thickness at week 4. CONCLUSION Chronic fetal hypoxia is associated with progressive LV diastolic dysfunction, which corresponds with changes in nuclear shape and collagen fiber thickness, and increased aortic stiffness from early postnatal stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Kumar
- Division of CardiologyDepartment of PediatricsUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
- Women and Children’s Health Research InstituteUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
| | - Jude S. Morton
- Women and Children’s Health Research InstituteUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
- Department of Obstetrics/GynecologyUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Mazankowski Alberta Heart InstituteUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
| | - Amin Shah
- Women and Children’s Health Research InstituteUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
- Department of Obstetrics/GynecologyUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Mazankowski Alberta Heart InstituteUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
| | - Victor Do
- Division of CardiologyDepartment of PediatricsUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
- Women and Children’s Health Research InstituteUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
| | - Consolato Sergi
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Mazankowski Alberta Heart InstituteUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
| | - Jesus Serrano‐Lomelin
- Women and Children’s Health Research InstituteUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
- Department of Obstetrics/GynecologyUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
| | - Sandra T. Davidge
- Women and Children’s Health Research InstituteUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
- Department of Obstetrics/GynecologyUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Mazankowski Alberta Heart InstituteUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
| | - Donna Beker
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Mazankowski Alberta Heart InstituteUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
| | - Jody Levasseur
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Mazankowski Alberta Heart InstituteUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
| | - Lisa K. Hornberger
- Division of CardiologyDepartment of PediatricsUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
- Women and Children’s Health Research InstituteUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
- Department of Obstetrics/GynecologyUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Mazankowski Alberta Heart InstituteUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
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29
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Francis MR, Pinniger GJ, Noble PB, Wang KCW. Intrauterine growth restriction affects diaphragm function in adult female and male mice. Pediatr Pulmonol 2020; 55:229-235. [PMID: 31535471 DOI: 10.1002/ppul.24519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In utero diaphragm development is critically important for postnatal respiratory function and any disturbance to fetal development may lead to diaphragm dysfunction and respiratory complications in the postnatal period. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) has been shown to affect respiratory function in a sex-dependent manner; however, the effect of IUGR on diaphragm function is unknown. AIM This study used a maternal hypoxia-induced mouse model of IUGR to investigate the impact of IUGR on diaphragm function and structure in male and female adult offspring. MATERIALS AND METHODS Pregnant BALB/c mice were housed under hypoxic conditions (10.5% O2 ) from gestational days 11 to 17.5 and then returned to normoxic conditions. Control mice were housed under normoxic conditions throughout pregnancy. At 8 weeks of age, offspring were euthanized and diaphragms isolated for functional assessment in organ bath experiments and for histological analysis. RESULTS IUGR offspring were lighter at birth and remained lighter at 8 weeks of age compared to Controls. While diaphragm force (maximal or twitch) was not affected by treatment or sex, the IUGR group exhibited a longer half-relaxation time after twitch contractions compared to Control. Female offspring had a lower maximum rate of force development and higher fatigue resistance compared to males, independent of IUGR. There was no difference in the diaphragm myofibre cross-sectional area between groups or sexes. CONCLUSION Sex and IUGR independently affect diaphragm contraction in adult mice without changes in structure. This study demonstrates that IUGR affects diaphragm contractile function in later life and could impair respiratory function if exacerbated under conditions of increased respiratory load.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maddison R Francis
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Gavin J Pinniger
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Peter B Noble
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Kimberley C W Wang
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.,Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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30
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Multi-Omics Integration Reveals Short and Long-Term Effects of Gestational Hypoxia on the Heart Development. Cells 2019; 8:cells8121608. [PMID: 31835778 PMCID: PMC6952773 DOI: 10.3390/cells8121608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Antenatal hypoxia caused epigenetic reprogramming of methylome and transcriptome in the developing heart and increased the risk of heart disease later in life. Herein, we investigated the impact of gestational hypoxia in proteome and metabolome in the hearts of fetus and adult offspring. Pregnant rats were treated with normoxia or hypoxia (10.5% O2) from day 15 to 21 of gestation. Hearts were isolated from near-term fetuses and 5 month-old offspring, and proteomics and metabolomics profiling was determined. The data demonstrated that antenatal hypoxia altered proteomics and metabolomics profiling in the heart, impacting energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation-related pathways in a developmental and sex dependent manner. Of importance, integrating multi-omics data of transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics profiling revealed reprogramming of the mitochondrion, especially in two clusters: (a) the cluster associated with "mitochondrial translation"/"aminoacyl t-RNA biosynthesis"/"one-carbon pool of folate"/"DNA methylation"; and (b) the cluster with "mitochondrion"/"TCA cycle and respiratory electron transfer"/"acyl-CoA dehydrogenase"/"oxidative phosphorylation"/"complex I"/"troponin myosin cardiac complex". Our study provides a powerful means of multi-omics data integration and reveals new insights into phenotypic reprogramming of the mitochondrion in the developing heart by fetal hypoxia, contributing to an increase in the heart vulnerability to disease later in life.
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31
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Prenatal hypoxia-induced epigenomic and transcriptomic reprogramming in rat fetal and adult offspring hearts. Sci Data 2019; 6:238. [PMID: 31664036 PMCID: PMC6820751 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-019-0253-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The molecular mechanism of antenatal hypoxia impacting on fetal heart development and elevated risk of heart disease of adult offspring is poorly understood. We present a dataset integrating DNA methylome and transcriptome analyses of antenatal hypoxia affecting rat fetal and adult offspring hearts to understand hypoxia-mediated epigenomic reprogramming of the heart development. We showed that antenatal hypoxia not only induced DNA methylomic and transcriptomic changes in the fetal hearts, but also had a delayed and lasting effect on the adult offspring hearts. Of interest, antenatal hypoxia induced opposite changes in DNA methylation patterns in fetal and adult hearts, with a hypermethylation in the fetus and a hypomethylation in the adult. An extensive preprocessing, quality assessment, and downstream data analyses were performed on the genomic dataset so that the research community may take advantage of the public resource. These dataset could be exploited as a comprehensive resource for understanding fetal hypoxia-mediated epigenetic reprogramming in the heart development and further developmental programming of heart vulnerability to disease later in life. Figshare doi: 10.6084/m9.figshare.9948572 Measurement(s) | transcription profiling assay • DNA methylation | Technology Type(s) | RNA sequencing • RRBS | Factor Type(s) | sex • developmental stage • treatment | Sample Characteristic - Organism | Rattus norvegicus |
Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: 10.6084/m9.figshare.9948572
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32
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Huang L, Chen X, Dasgupta C, Chen W, Song R, Wang C, Zhang L. Foetal hypoxia impacts methylome and transcriptome in developmental programming of heart disease. Cardiovasc Res 2019; 115:1306-1319. [PMID: 30395198 PMCID: PMC6587923 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvy277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Antenatal hypoxia negatively impacts foetal heart development, and increases the risk of heart disease later in life. The molecular mechanisms remain largely elusive. Here, we conducted a genome-wide analysis to study the impact of antenatal hypoxia on DNA methylome and transcriptome profiling in foetal and adult offspring hearts. METHODS AND RESULTS Pregnant rats were treated with normoxia or hypoxia (10.5% O2) from Day 15 to Day 21 of gestation. Hearts were isolated from near-term foetuses and 5-month-old male and female offsprings, and DNA methylome and RNA-seq were performed. Methylome data shows a sharp dip in CpG methylation centred at the transcription start site (TSS). CpG islands (CGIs) and CpG island shores (CGSs) within 10 kb upstream of the TSS are hypomethylated, compared with CGIs and CGSs within gene bodies. Combining transcriptome, data indicate an inverse relation between gene expression and CpG methylation around the TSS. Of interest, antenatal hypoxia induces opposite changes in methylation patterns in foetal and adult hearts, with hypermethylation in the foetus and hypomethylation in the adult. Also, there is significant sex dimorphism of changes in gene expression patterns in the adult offspring heart. Notably, pathway analysis indicates that enrichment of inflammation-related pathways are significantly greater in the adult male heart than those in the female heart. CONCLUSION Our study provides an initial framework and new insights into foetal hypoxia-mediated epigenetic programming of pro-inflammatory phenotype in the heart development, linking antenatal stress, and developmental programming of heart vulnerability to disease later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Huang
- Department of Basic Sciences, Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 11234 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Basic Sciences, Center for Genomics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 11234 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Chiranjib Dasgupta
- Department of Basic Sciences, Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 11234 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Wanqiu Chen
- Department of Basic Sciences, Center for Genomics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 11234 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Rui Song
- Department of Basic Sciences, Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 11234 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Charles Wang
- Department of Basic Sciences, Center for Genomics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 11234 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Lubo Zhang
- Department of Basic Sciences, Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 11234 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA, USA
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Ruhr IM, McCourty H, Bajjig A, Crossley DA, Shiels HA, Galli GLJ. Developmental plasticity of cardiac anoxia-tolerance in juvenile common snapping turtles ( Chelydra serpentina). Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20191072. [PMID: 31238852 PMCID: PMC6599983 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
For some species of ectothermic vertebrates, early exposure to hypoxia during embryonic development improves hypoxia-tolerance later in life. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are largely unknown. Given that hypoxic survival is critically dependent on the maintenance of cardiac function, we tested the hypothesis that developmental hypoxia alters cardiomyocyte physiology in a manner that protects the heart from hypoxic stress. To test this hypothesis, we studied the common snapping turtle, which routinely experiences chronic developmental hypoxia and exploits hypoxic environments in adulthood. We isolated cardiomyocytes from juvenile turtles that embryonically developed in either normoxia (21% O2) or hypoxia (10% O2), and subjected them to simulated anoxia and reoxygenation, while simultaneously measuring intracellular Ca2+, pH and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Our results suggest developmental hypoxia improves cardiomyocyte anoxia-tolerance of juvenile turtles, which is supported by enhanced myofilament Ca2+-sensitivity and a superior ability to suppress ROS production. Maintenance of low ROS levels during anoxia might limit oxidative damage and a greater sensitivity to Ca2+ could provide a mechanism to maintain contractile force. Our study suggests developmental hypoxia has long-lasting effects on turtle cardiomyocyte function, which might prime their physiology for exploiting hypoxic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilan M Ruhr
- 1 Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester , Manchester M13 9NT , UK
| | - Heather McCourty
- 1 Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester , Manchester M13 9NT , UK
| | - Afaf Bajjig
- 1 Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester , Manchester M13 9NT , UK
| | - Dane A Crossley
- 2 Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas , Denton, TX 76203 , USA
| | - Holly A Shiels
- 1 Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester , Manchester M13 9NT , UK
| | - Gina L J Galli
- 1 Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester , Manchester M13 9NT , UK
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Thompson LP, Song H, Polster BM. Fetal Programming and Sexual Dimorphism of Mitochondrial Protein Expression and Activity of Hearts of Prenatally Hypoxic Guinea Pig Offspring. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2019; 2019:7210249. [PMID: 31249648 PMCID: PMC6589217 DOI: 10.1155/2019/7210249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Chronic intrauterine hypoxia is a programming stimulus of cardiovascular dysfunction. While the fetal heart adapts to the reduced oxygenation, the offspring heart becomes vulnerable to subsequent metabolic challenges as an adult. Cardiac mitochondria are key organelles responsible for an efficient energy supply but are subject to damage under hypoxic conditions. We propose that intrauterine hypoxia alters mitochondrial function as an underlying programming mechanism of contractile dysfunction in the offspring. Indices of mitochondrial function such as mitochondrial DNA content, Complex (C) I-V expression, and CI/CIV enzyme activity were measured in hearts of male and female offspring at 90 days old exposed to prenatal hypoxia (10.5% O2) for 14 d prior to term (65 d). Both left ventricular tissue and cardiomyocytes exhibited decreased mitochondrial DNA content, expression of CIV, and CI/CIV activity in male hearts. In female cardiomyocytes, hypoxia had no effect on protein expression of CI-CV nor on CI/CIV activity. This study suggests that chronic intrauterine hypoxia alters the intrinsic properties of select respiratory complexes as a programming mechanism of cardiac dysfunction in the offspring. Sex differences in mitochondrial function may underlie the increased vulnerability of age-matched males compared to females in cardiovascular disease and heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loren P. Thompson
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Medicine, 655 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Hong Song
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Medicine, 655 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Brian M. Polster
- Department of Anesthesiology and Center for Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research, University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Medicine, 655 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Leu S, Wu KLH, Lee WC, Tain YL, Chan JYH. The Impact of Maternal Fructose Exposure on Angiogenic Activity of Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Blood Flow Recovery After Critical Limb Ischemia in Rat Offspring. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20102429. [PMID: 31100865 PMCID: PMC6566409 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20102429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult metabolic syndrome is considered to be elicited by the developmental programming which is regulated by the prenatal environment. The maternal excess intake of fructose, a wildly used food additive, is found to be associated with developmental programing-associated cardiovascular diseases. To investigate the effect of maternal fructose exposure (MFE) on endothelial function and repair, which participate in the initiation and progress of cardiovascular disease, we applied a rat model with maternal fructose excess intake during gestational and lactational stage and examined the number and function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in 3-month-old male offspring with induction of critical limb ischemia (CLI). Results showed that the circulating levels of c-Kit+/CD31+ and Sca-1+/KDR+ EPC were reduced by MFE. In vitro angiogenesis analysis indicated the angiogenic activity of bone marrow-derived EPC, including tube formation and cellular migration, was reduced by MFE. Western blots further indicated the phosphorylated levels of ERK1/2, p38-MAPK, and JNK in circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells were up-regulated by MFE. Fourteen days after CLI, the reduced blood flow recovery, lowered capillary density, and increased fibrotic area in quadriceps were observed in offspring with MFE. Moreover, the aortic endothelium-mediated vasorelaxant response in offspring was impaired by MFE. In conclusion, maternal fructose intake during gestational and lactational stage modulates the number and angiogenic activity of EPCs and results in poor blood flow recovery after ischemic injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Leu
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan.
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan.
| | - Kay L H Wu
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan.
| | - Wei-Chia Lee
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan.
| | - You-Lin Tain
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan.
| | - Julie Y H Chan
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan.
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Assalin HB, Gontijo JAR, Boer PA. miRNAs, target genes expression and morphological analysis on the heart in gestational protein-restricted offspring. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210454. [PMID: 31034522 PMCID: PMC6507319 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Gestational protein restriction was associated with low birth weight, hypertension and higher prevalence of cardiac disorders in adults. Several mechanisms, including epigenetics, could be related with the cardiovascular phenotype on protein-restricted offspring. Thus, we investigated the morphological cardiac effects of gestational protein restriction and left ventricle miRNAs and target genes expression pattern in both 12-day and 16-week old gestational protein-restricted male offspring. Pregnant Wistar rats were allocated into two groups, according to protein supply during pregnancy: NP (normal protein diet- 17%) or LP (low protein diet-6%). Dams on the gestational protein-restricted diet had lower body weight gain and higher food intake. Gestational protein-restricted offspring had low birth weight, followed by rapidly body weight recovery, hypertension, and increased myocytes cross-sectional area and collagen fraction at 16-week old age. At 12-days old, miR-184, miR-192, miR-376c, miR-380-3p, miR-380-5p, miR-451, and miR-582-3p had increased expression, and miR-547 and miR-743a had decreased expression in the gestational protein-restricted left ventricle. At 16-week old, let-7b, miR-125a-3p, miR-142-3p, miR-182 and miR-188-5p had increased expression and let-7g, miR-107, miR-127, miR-181a, miR-181c, miR-184, miR-324-5p, miR-383, miR-423-5p and miR-484 had decreased expression in gestational protein-restricted left ventricle. Target predicted gene expression analysis showed higher expression of Dnmt3a, Oxct1, Rictor and Trps1 and lower expression of Bbs1 and Calml3 in 12-day old protein-restricted offspring. 16-week old protein-restricted offspring had higher expression of Adrbk1, Bbs1, Dnmt3a, Gpr22, Inppl1, and Oxct1 genes. In conclusion, gestational protein restriction was related to offspring low birth weight, increased systolic blood pressure and morphological heart alterations that could be related to early heart miRNA expression changes that perpetuate into adulthood and which are associated with the regulation of essential genes involved in cardiovascular development, heart morphology, function, and metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heloisa Balan Assalin
- Internal Medicine Department, School of Medicine, State
University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Patrícia Aline Boer
- Internal Medicine Department, School of Medicine, State
University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail: ,
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Khazaee R, McCaig LA, Yamashita C, Hardy DB, Veldhuizen RAW. Maternal protein restriction during perinatal life affects lung mechanics and the surfactant system during early postnatal life in female rats. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215611. [PMID: 31002676 PMCID: PMC6474624 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Limited information is available on how fetal growth retardation (FGR) affects the lung in the neonatal period in males and females. This led us to test the hypothesis that FGR alters lung mechanics and the surfactant system during the neonatal period. To test this hypothesis a model of FGR was utilized in which pregnant rat dams were fed a low protein diet during both the gestation and lactation period. We subsequently analyzed lung mechanics using a FlexiVent ventilator in male and female pups at postnatal day 7 and 21. Lung lavage material was obtained at postnatal day 1, 7 and 21, and was used for analysis of the surfactant system which included measurement of the pool size of surfactant and its subfraction as well as the surface tension reducing ability of the surfactant. The main result of the study was a significantly lower lung compliance and higher tissue elastance which was observed in FGR female offspring at day 21 compared to control offspring. In addition, female LP offspring exhibited lower surfactant pool sizes at postnatal day 1compared to controls. These changes were not observed in the male offspring. It is concluded that FGR has a different impact on pulmonary function and on surfactant in female, as compared to male, offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Khazaee
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Biotron Research Centre, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Cory Yamashita
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel B. Hardy
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ruud A. W. Veldhuizen
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Langmia IM, Kräker K, Weiss SE, Haase N, Schütte T, Herse F, Dechend R. Cardiovascular Programming During and After Diabetic Pregnancy: Role of Placental Dysfunction and IUGR. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:215. [PMID: 31024453 PMCID: PMC6466995 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a condition whereby a fetus is unable to achieve its genetically determined potential size. IUGR is a global health challenge due to high mortality and morbidity amongst affected neonates. It is a multifactorial condition caused by maternal, fetal, placental, and genetic confounders. Babies born of diabetic pregnancies are usually large for gestational age but under certain conditions whereby prolonged uncontrolled hyperglycemia leads to placental dysfunction, the outcome of the pregnancy is an intrauterine growth restricted fetus with clinical features of malnutrition. Placental dysfunction leads to undernutrition and hypoxia, which triggers gene modification in the developing fetus due to fetal adaptation to adverse utero environmental conditions. Thus, in utero gene modification results in future cardiovascular programming in postnatal and adult life. Ongoing research aims to broaden our understanding of the molecular mechanisms and pathological pathways involved in fetal programming due to IUGR. There is a need for the development of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies for the management of growth-restricted infants. Information on the mechanisms involved with in utero epigenetic modification leading to development of cardiovascular disease in adult life will increase our understanding and allow the identification of susceptible individuals as well as the design of targeted prevention strategies. This article aims to systematically review the latest molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of IUGR in cardiovascular programming. Animal models of IUGR that used nutrient restriction and hypoxia to mimic the clinical conditions in humans of reduced flow of nutrients and oxygen to the fetus will be discussed in terms of cardiac remodeling and epigenetic programming of cardiovascular disease. Experimental evidence of long-term fetal programming due to IUGR will also be included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Immaculate M. Langmia
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A Joint Cooperation Between the Max-Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine and the Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
- Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Bonn, Germany
| | - Kristin Kräker
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A Joint Cooperation Between the Max-Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine and the Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sara E. Weiss
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A Joint Cooperation Between the Max-Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine and the Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nadine Haase
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A Joint Cooperation Between the Max-Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine and the Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Till Schütte
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Institute of Pharmacology, Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Florian Herse
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A Joint Cooperation Between the Max-Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine and the Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ralf Dechend
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A Joint Cooperation Between the Max-Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine and the Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- HELIOS-Klinikum, Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Ralf Dechend
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Shah A, Cooke CLM, Kirschenman RD, Quon AL, Morton JS, Care AS, Davidge ST. Sex-specific effects of advanced maternal age on cardiovascular function in aged adult rat offspring. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2018; 315:H1724-H1734. [DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00375.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Pregnancy at an advanced maternal age has an increased risk of complications for both the mothers and their offspring. We have previously shown that advanced maternal age in a rat model leads to poor fetal outcomes, maternal vascular dysfunction, and hypertension, concordant with findings in humans. Moreover, offspring from aged dams had sex-specific cardiovascular dysfunction in young adulthood. However, the detrimental impact of aging on the cardiovascular system of the offspring in this model is unknown. We hypothesized that offspring born to aged dams (9.5–10 mo old) would have impaired cardiovascular function at 12 mo of age. Echocardiographic data revealed signs of mild left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in only male offspring from aged dams [isovolumetric relaxation time: 34.27 ± 2.04 in the young dam group vs. 27.61 ± 0.99 ms in the aged dam group, P < 0.01; mitral annular velocity ratio ( E′/ A′): 1.08 ± 0.04 in the young dam group vs. 0.96 ± 0.02 in the aged dam group, P < 0.05]. We have previously shown that in young adulthood (4 mo of age), male, but not female, offspring born to aged dams had impaired recovery from ischemia-reperfusion injury. Aging did not alter the susceptibility of female offspring to ischemia-reperfusion injury. Interestingly, wire myography data revealed that male offspring from aged dams had enhanced vascular sensitivity to methacholine (negative log of EC50: 7.4 ± 0.08 in young dams vs. 7.9 ± 0.11 in aged dams, P = 0.007) due, in part, to increased prostaglandin-mediated vasodilation. Despite intact endothelium-dependent relaxation, female offspring from aged dams had elevated systolic blood pressure (125.3 ± 4.2 mmHg in young dams vs. 144.0 ± 6.9 mmHg in aged dams, P = 0.03). These data highlight sex-specific mechanisms underlying cardiovascular programming in offspring born to dams of advanced age. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our study demonstrated that adult male and female offspring (12 mo old) born to aged dams had impaired cardiac diastolic function and increased blood pressure, respectively, signifying sex-specific differential cardiovascular effects of advanced maternal age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Shah
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Christy-Lynn M. Cooke
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Lois Hole Hospital for Women, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Raven D. Kirschenman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Anita L. Quon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jude S. Morton
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Alison S. Care
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sandra T. Davidge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Kuo AH, Li C, Huber HF, Clarke GD, Nathanielsz PW. Intrauterine growth restriction results in persistent vascular mismatch in adulthood. J Physiol 2018; 596:5777-5790. [PMID: 29098705 PMCID: PMC6265527 DOI: 10.1113/jp275139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) increases offspring risk of chronic diseases later in life, including cardiovascular dysfunction. Our prior studies suggest biventricular cardiac dysfunction and vascular impairment in baboons who were IUGR at birth because of moderate maternal nutrient reduction. The current study reveals changes in artery sizes, distensibility, and blood flow pattern in young adult IUGR baboons, which may contribute to cardiac stress. The pattern of abnormality observed suggests that vascular redistribution seen with IUGR in fetal life may continue into adulthood. ABSTRACT Maternal nutrient reduction induces intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), increasing risks of chronic diseases later in life, including cardiovascular dysfunction. Using ultrasound, we determined regional blood flow, blood vessel sizes, and distensibility in IUGR baboons (8 males, 8 females, 8.8 years, similar to 35 human years) and controls (12 males, 12 females, 9.5 years). The measured blood vessels were larger in size in the males compared to females before but not after normalization to body surface area. Smaller IUGR normalized blood vessel sizes were observed in the femoral and external iliac arteries but not the brachial or common carotid arteries and not correlated significantly with birth weight. Mild decrease in distensibility in the IUGR group was seen in the iliac but not the carotid arteries without between-sex differences. In IUGR baboons there was increased carotid arterial blood flow velocity during late systole and diastole. Overall, our findings support the conclusion that region specific vascular and haemodynamic changes occur with IUGR, which may contribute to the occurrence of later life cardiac dysfunction. The pattern of alteration observed suggests vascular redistribution efforts in response to challenges in the perinatal period may persist into adulthood. Further studies are needed to determine the life course progression of these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anderson H. Kuo
- Department of Radiology and Research Imaging InstituteUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San AntonioSan AntonioTXUSA
| | - Cun Li
- Department of Animal ScienceUniversity of WyomingLaramieWYUSA
- Southwest National Primate Research CenterSan AntonioTXUSA
| | | | - Geoffrey D. Clarke
- Department of Radiology and Research Imaging InstituteUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San AntonioSan AntonioTXUSA
- Southwest National Primate Research CenterSan AntonioTXUSA
| | - Peter W. Nathanielsz
- Department of Animal ScienceUniversity of WyomingLaramieWYUSA
- Southwest National Primate Research CenterSan AntonioTXUSA
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Thompson LP, Chen L, Polster BM, Pinkas G, Song H. Prenatal hypoxia impairs cardiac mitochondrial and ventricular function in guinea pig offspring in a sex-related manner. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2018; 315:R1232-R1241. [PMID: 30365351 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00224.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Adverse intrauterine conditions cause fetal growth restriction and increase the risk of adult cardiovascular disease. We hypothesize that intrauterine hypoxia impairs fetal heart function, is sustained after birth, and manifests as both cardiac and mitochondrial dysfunction in offspring guinea pigs (GPs). Pregnant GPs were exposed to 10.5% O2 (HPX) at 50 days of gestation (full term = 65 days) or normoxia (NMX) for the duration of the pregnancy. Pups were allowed to deliver vaginally and raised in a NMX environment. At 90 days of age, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured in anesthetized GPs. NMX and prenatally HPX offspring underwent echocardiographic imaging for in vivo measurement of left ventricular cardiac morphology and function, and O2 consumption rates and complex IV enzyme activity were measured from isolated cardiomyocytes and mitochondria, respectively. Prenatal HPX increased ( P < 0.01) MAP (52.3 ± 1.3 and 58.4 ± 1.1 mmHg in NMX and HPX, respectively) and decreased ( P < 0.05) stroke volume (439.8 ± 54.5 and 289.4 ± 15.8 μl in NMX and HPX, respectively), cardiac output (94.4 ± 11.2 and 67.3 ± 3.8 ml/min in NMX and HPX, respectively), ejection fraction, and fractional shortening in male, but not female, GPs. HPX had no effect on left ventricular wall thickness or end-diastolic volume in either sex. HPX reduced mitochondrial maximal respiration and respiratory reserve capacity and complex IV activity rates in hearts of male, but not female, GPs. Prenatal HPX is a programming stimulus that increases MAP and decreases cardiac and mitochondrial function in male offspring. Sex-related differences in the contractile and mitochondrial responses suggest that female GPs are protected from cardiovascular programming of prenatal HPX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loren P Thompson
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ling Chen
- Department of Physiology and Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Brian M Polster
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Gerard Pinkas
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Hong Song
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland
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Masoumy EP, Sawyer AA, Sharma S, Patel JA, Gordon PMK, Regnault TRH, Matushewski B, Weintraub NL, Richardson B, Thompson JA, Stansfield BK. The lifelong impact of fetal growth restriction on cardiac development. Pediatr Res 2018; 84:537-544. [PMID: 29967522 PMCID: PMC6265071 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-018-0069-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal nutrient restriction (MNR) is a widespread cause of fetal growth restriction (FGR), an independent predictor of heart disease and cardiovascular mortality. Our objective was to examine the developmental and long-term impact of MNR-induced FGR on cardiac structure in a model that closely mimics human development. METHODS A reduction in total caloric intake spanning pregestation through to lactation in guinea pig sows was used to induce FGR. Proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes were assessed in late-gestation fetal, neonatal, and adult guinea pig hearts. Proteomic analysis and pathway enrichment were performed on fetal hearts. RESULTS Cardiomyocyte proliferation and the number of mononucleated cells were enhanced in the MNR-FGR fetal and neonatal heart, suggesting a delay in cardiomyocyte differentiation. In fetal hearts of MNR-FGR animals, apoptosis was markedly elevated and the total number of cardiomyocytes reduced, the latter remaining so throughout neonatal and into adult life. A reduction in total cardiomyocyte number in adult MNR-FGR hearts was accompanied by exaggerated hypertrophy and a disorganized architecture. Pathway analysis identified genes related to cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. CONCLUSIONS FGR influences cardiomyocyte development during critical windows of development, leading to a permanent deficiency in cardiomyocyte number and compensatory hypertrophy in a rodent model that recapitulates human development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily P Masoumy
- Division of Neonatology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, Georgia
| | | | - Suash Sharma
- Department of Pathology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, Georgia
| | - Jenny A Patel
- Division of Neonatology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, Georgia
| | - Paul M K Gordon
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Timothy R H Regnault
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Physiology and Pharmacology, and Children's Health Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Brad Matushewski
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Physiology and Pharmacology, and Children's Health Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Neal L Weintraub
- Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, Georgia
- Division of Cardiology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, Georgia
| | - Bryan Richardson
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Physiology and Pharmacology, and Children's Health Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jennifer A Thompson
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | - Brian K Stansfield
- Division of Neonatology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, Georgia.
- Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, Georgia.
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43
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Ducsay CA, Goyal R, Pearce WJ, Wilson S, Hu XQ, Zhang L. Gestational Hypoxia and Developmental Plasticity. Physiol Rev 2018; 98:1241-1334. [PMID: 29717932 PMCID: PMC6088145 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00043.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia is one of the most common and severe challenges to the maintenance of homeostasis. Oxygen sensing is a property of all tissues, and the response to hypoxia is multidimensional involving complicated intracellular networks concerned with the transduction of hypoxia-induced responses. Of all the stresses to which the fetus and newborn infant are subjected, perhaps the most important and clinically relevant is that of hypoxia. Hypoxia during gestation impacts both the mother and fetal development through interactions with an individual's genetic traits acquired over multiple generations by natural selection and changes in gene expression patterns by altering the epigenetic code. Changes in the epigenome determine "genomic plasticity," i.e., the ability of genes to be differentially expressed according to environmental cues. The genomic plasticity defined by epigenomic mechanisms including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding RNAs during development is the mechanistic substrate for phenotypic programming that determines physiological response and risk for healthy or deleterious outcomes. This review explores the impact of gestational hypoxia on maternal health and fetal development, and epigenetic mechanisms of developmental plasticity with emphasis on the uteroplacental circulation, heart development, cerebral circulation, pulmonary development, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and adipose tissue. The complex molecular and epigenetic interactions that may impact an individual's physiology and developmental programming of health and disease later in life are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles A. Ducsay
- The Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Ravi Goyal
- The Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - William J. Pearce
- The Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Sean Wilson
- The Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Xiang-Qun Hu
- The Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Lubo Zhang
- The Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
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Camm EJ, Botting KJ, Sferruzzi-Perri AN. Near to One's Heart: The Intimate Relationship Between the Placenta and Fetal Heart. Front Physiol 2018; 9:629. [PMID: 29997513 PMCID: PMC6029139 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of the fetal heart is exquisitely controlled by a multitude of factors, ranging from humoral to mechanical forces. The gatekeeper regulating many of these factors is the placenta, an external fetal organ. As such, resistance within the placental vascular bed has a direct influence on the fetal circulation and therefore, the developing heart. In addition, the placenta serves as the interface between the mother and fetus, controlling substrate exchange and release of hormones into both circulations. The intricate relationship between the placenta and fetal heart is appreciated in instances of clinical placental pathology. Abnormal umbilical cord insertion is associated with congenital heart defects. Likewise, twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, where monochorionic twins have unequal sharing of their placenta due to inter-twin vascular anastomoses, can result in cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in both fetuses. Moreover, epidemiological studies have suggested a link between placental phenotypic traits and increased risk of cardiovascular disease in adult life. To date, the mechanistic basis of the relationships between the placenta, fetal heart development and later risk of cardiac dysfunction have not been fully elucidated. However, studies using environmental exposures and gene manipulations in experimental animals are providing insights into the pathways involved. Likewise, surgical instrumentation of the maternal and fetal circulations in large animal species has enabled the manipulation of specific humoral and mechanical factors to investigate their roles in fetal cardiac development. This review will focus on such studies and what is known to date about the link between the placenta and heart development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J Camm
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience and Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kimberley J Botting
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience and Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda N Sferruzzi-Perri
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience and Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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45
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Cooke CLM, Shah A, Kirschenman RD, Quon AL, Morton JS, Care AS, Davidge ST. Increased susceptibility to cardiovascular disease in offspring born from dams of advanced maternal age. J Physiol 2018; 596:5807-5821. [PMID: 29882308 DOI: 10.1113/jp275472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Advanced maternal age increases the risk of pregnancy complications such as fetal growth restriction, hypertension and premature birth. Offspring born from compromised pregnancies are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease as adults. However, the effect of advanced maternal age on later-onset disease in offspring has not been investigated. In adulthood, male but not female offspring born to dams of advanced maternal age showed impaired recovery from cardiac ischaemia/reperfusion injury. Endothelium-dependent relaxation was also impaired in male but not female offspring born from aged dams. Oxidative stress may play a role in the developmental programming of cardiovascular disease in this model. Given the increasing trend toward delayed parenthood, these findings have significant population and health care implications and warrant further investigation. ABSTRACT Exposure to prenatal stressors, including hypoxia, micro- and macronutrient deficiency, and maternal stress, increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. It is unclear whether being born from a mother of advanced maternal age (≥35 years old) may also constitute a prenatal stress with cardiovascular consequences in adulthood. We previously demonstrated growth restriction in fetuses from a rat model of advanced maternal age, suggesting exposure to a compromised in utero environment. Thus, we hypothesized that male and female offspring from aged dams would exhibit impaired cardiovascular function as adults. In 4-month-old offspring, we observed impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in male (P < 0.05) but not female offspring born from aged dams. The anti-oxidant polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase improved relaxation only in arteries from male offspring of aged dams (ΔEmax : young dam -1.63 ± 0.80 vs. aged dam 11.75 ± 4.23, P < 0.05). Furthermore, endothelium-derived hyperpolarization-dependent relaxation was reduced in male but not female offspring of aged dams (P < 0.05). Interestingly, there was a significant increase in nitric oxide contribution to relaxation in females born from aged dams (ΔEmax : young dam -24.8 ± 12.1 vs. aged dam -68.7 ± 7.7, P < 0.05), which was not observed in males. Recovery of cardiac function following an ischaemia-reperfusion insult in male offspring born from aged dams was reduced by ∼57% (P < 0.001), an effect that was not evident in female offspring. These data indicate that offspring born from aged dams have an altered cardiovascular risk profile that is sex-specific. Given the increasing trend toward delaying pregnancy, these findings may have significant population and health care implications and warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christy-Lynn M Cooke
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Lois Hole Hospital for Women, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Amin Shah
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Raven D Kirschenman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Anita L Quon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jude S Morton
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Alison S Care
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Sandra T Davidge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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46
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Clarke GD, Nathanielsz PW. 'Stiffening the sinews of the heart'. J Physiol 2018; 596:2279-2280. [PMID: 29676799 PMCID: PMC6002227 DOI: 10.1113/jp276234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey D. Clarke
- Department of Radiology and Research Imaging InstituteThe University of Texas Health Science Center at San AntonioSan AntonioTXUSA
| | - Peter W. Nathanielsz
- Department of Animal ScienceCollege of Agriculture and Natural ResourcesLaramieWYUSA
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Rodríguez-Rodríguez P, Ramiro-Cortijo D, Reyes-Hernández CG, López de Pablo AL, González MC, Arribas SM. Implication of Oxidative Stress in Fetal Programming of Cardiovascular Disease. Front Physiol 2018; 9:602. [PMID: 29875698 PMCID: PMC5974054 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Lifestyle and genetic background are well known risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). A third contributing factor is suboptimal fetal development, due to nutrient or oxygen deprivation, placental insufficiency, or exposure to toxic substances. The fetus adapts to adverse intrauterine conditions to ensure survival; the immediate consequence is low birth weight (LBW) and the long-term effect is an increased susceptibility to develop CVD in adult life. This process is known as Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) or fetal programming of CVD. The influence of fetal life for the future cardiovascular health of the individual has been evidenced by numerous epidemiologic studies in populations suffering from starvation during intrauterine life. Furthermore, experimental animal models have provided support and enabled exploring the underlying mechanisms. Oxidative stress seems to play a central role in fetal programming of CVD, both in the response of the feto-placental unit to the suboptimal intrauterine environment and in the alterations of physiologic systems of cardiovascular control, ultimately leading to disease. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on the alterations in oxidative balance in response to fetal stress factors covering two aspects. Firstly, the evidence from human studies of the implication of oxidative stress in LBW induced by suboptimal conditions during intrauterine life, emphasizing the role of the placenta. In the second part we summarize data on specific redox alterations in key cardiovascular control organs induced by exposure to known stress factors in experimental animals and discuss the emerging role of the mitochondria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Ramiro-Cortijo
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Angel L López de Pablo
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - M Carmen González
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia M Arribas
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Crispi F, Miranda J, Gratacós E. Long-term cardiovascular consequences of fetal growth restriction: biology, clinical implications, and opportunities for prevention of adult disease. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2018; 218:S869-S879. [PMID: 29422215 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2017.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In the modern world, cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death for both men and women. Epidemiologic studies consistently have suggested an association between low birthweight and/or fetal growth restriction and increased rate of cardiovascular mortality in adulthood. Furthermore, experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that sustained nutrient and oxygen restriction that are associated with fetal growth restriction activate adaptive cardiovascular changes that might explain this association. Fetal growth restriction results in metabolic programming that may increase the risk of metabolic syndrome and, consequently, of cardiovascular morbidity in the adult. In addition, fetal growth restriction is strongly associated with fetal cardiac and arterial remodeling and a subclinical state of cardiovascular dysfunction. The cardiovascular effects ocurring in fetal life, includes cardiac morphology changes, subclinical myocardial dysfunction, arterial remodeling, and impaired endothelial function, persist into childhood and adolescence. Importantly, these changes have been described in all clinical presentations of fetal growth restriction, from severe early- to milder late-onset forms. In this review we summarize the current evidence on the cardiovascular effects of fetal growth restriction, from subcellular to organ structure and function as well as from fetal to early postnatal life. Future research needs to elucidate whether and how early life cardiovascular remodeling persists into adulthood and determines the increased cardiovascular mortality rate described in epidemiologic studies.
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The role of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) in offspring exposed to prenatal hypoxia. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2017; 9:661-669. [DOI: 10.1017/s2040174417001003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to prenatal hypoxia in rats leads to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), decreases fetal cardiomyocyte proliferation and increases the risk to develop cardiovascular diseases (CVD) later in life. The tumor necrosis factor-related weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) induces cardiomyocyte proliferation through activation of the fibroblast growth factor-inducible molecule 14 (Fn-14) receptor. The TWEAK/Fn-14 pathway becomes quiescent shortly after birth, however, it becomes upregulated with CVD; suggesting that it could be a link between the increased susceptibility to CVD in pregnancies complicated by hypoxia/IUGR. We hypothesized that offspring exposed to prenatal hypoxia will exhibit reduced cardiomyocyte proliferation due to reduced Fn-14 expression and that the TWEAK/Fn-14 pathway will be expressed in those adult offspring. We exposed pregnant Sprague Dawley rats to control (21% oxygen) or hypoxic (11% oxygen) conditions from gestational days 15 to 21. Ventricular cardiomyocytes were isolated from male and female, control and hypoxic offspring at postnatal day 1. Proliferation was assessed in the presence or absence of r-TWEAK (72 h, 100 ng/ml). Prenatal hypoxia was not associated with differences in Fn-14 protein expression in either male or female offspring. Cardiomyocytes from prenatal hypoxic male, but not female, offspring had decreased proliferation compared with controls. Addition of r-TWEAK increased cardiomyocyte proliferation in all offspring. In adult offspring of all groups, the TWEAK/Fn-14 pathway was not detectable. Cardiomyocyte proliferation was reduced in only male offspring exposed to prenatal hypoxia but this was not due to changes in the Fn-14 pathway. Studies addressing other pathways associated with CVD and prenatal hypoxia are needed.
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50
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Preserved heart function after left ventricular pressure overload in adult mice subjected to neonatal cardiac hypoplasia. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2017; 9:112-124. [PMID: 28737122 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174417000514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Intrauterine growth restriction in animal models reduces heart size and cardiomyocyte number at birth. Such incomplete cardiomyocyte endowment is believed to increase susceptibility toward cardiovascular disease in adulthood, a phenomenon referred to as developmental programming. We have previously described a mouse model of impaired myocardial development leading to a 25% reduction of cardiomyocyte number in neonates. This study investigated the response of these hypoplastic hearts to pressure overload in adulthood, applied by abdominal aortic constriction (AAC). Echocardiography revealed a similar hypertrophic response in hypoplastic hearts compared with controls over the first 2 weeks. Subsequently, control mice develop mild left ventricular (LV) dilation, wall thinning and contractile dysfunction 4 weeks after AAC, whereas hypoplastic hearts fully maintain LV dimensions, wall thickness and contractility. At the cellular level, controls exhibit increased cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area after 4 weeks pressure overload compared with sham operated animals, but this hypertrophic response is markedly attenuated in hypoplastic hearts. AAC mediated induction of fibrosis, apoptosis or cell cycle activity was not different between groups. Expression of fetal genes, indicative of pathological conditions, was similar in hypoplastic and control hearts after AAC. Among various signaling pathways involved in cardiac hypertrophy, pressure overload induces p38 MAP-kinase activity in hypoplastic hearts but not controls compared with the respective sham operated animals. In summary, based on the mouse model used in this study, our data indicates that adult hearts after neonatal cardiac hypoplasia show an altered growth response to pressure overload, eventually resulting in better functional outcome compared with controls.
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