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Hissen SL, Takeda R, Badrov MB, Arias-Franklin S, Patel S, Nelson DB, Babb TG, Fu Q. Impact of maternal obesity on resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity during uncomplicated pregnancy: a longitudinal assessment. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2024; 326:R10-R18. [PMID: 37955129 PMCID: PMC11283889 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00098.2023] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Maternal obesity increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The mechanisms that contribute to this elevated risk are unclear but may be related to greater activity of the sympathetic nervous system, which is associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. We hypothesized that resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) would be greater in women with obesity during pregnancy when compared with normal-weight women. Blood pressure, heart rate, and MSNA were recorded during 5 min of supine rest in 14 normal-weight women [body mass index (BMI) 22.1 ± 2.1 (SD) kg/m2] and 14 women with obesity (BMI 33.9 ± 3.5 kg/m2) during (early and late) pregnancy and postpartum. All women had uncomplicated pregnancies. Resting MSNA burst frequency was not different between groups during early (normal weight 17 ± 10 vs. obesity 22 ± 15 bursts/min, P = 0.35) but was significantly greater in the obesity group during late pregnancy (23 ± 13 vs. 35 ± 15 bursts/min, P = 0.031) and not different postpartum (10 ± 6 vs. 9 ± 7 bursts/min, P = 0.74). These findings were also apparent when comparing burst incidence and total activity. Although still within the normotensive range, systolic blood pressure was greater in the obesity group across all time points (P = 0.002). Diastolic blood pressure was lower during pregnancy compared with postpartum (P < 0.001) and not different between groups (P = 0.488). Heart rate increased throughout pregnancy in both groups (P < 0.001). Our findings suggest that maternal obesity is associated with greater increases in sympathetic activity even during uncomplicated pregnancy. Future research is needed to determine if this is linked with an increased risk of adverse outcomes or is required to maintain homeostasis in pregnancy.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The impact of maternal obesity on resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity was examined during (early and late) and after uncomplicated pregnancy. Resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity is not different during early pregnancy or postpartum but is significantly elevated in women with obesity during late pregnancy when compared with normal-weight women. Future research is needed to determine if this is linked with an increased risk of adverse outcomes or is required to maintain homeostasis in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Hissen
- Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Ryosuke Takeda
- Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Mark B Badrov
- Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
- University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sonia Arias-Franklin
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Shivani Patel
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - David B Nelson
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Tony G Babb
- Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Qi Fu
- Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
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Badrov MB, Yoo JK, Hissen SL, D’Souza AW, Nelson DB, Shoemaker JK, Fu Q. Muscle Sympathetic Action Potential Firing Patterns During Normotensive and Hypertensive Pregnancy: A Longitudinal Assessment. Circulation 2023; 147:611-613. [PMID: 36780388 PMCID: PMC9936619 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.122.062192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark B. Badrov
- Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Medicine, Toronto General Health Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jeung-Ki Yoo
- Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Sarah L. Hissen
- Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Andrew W. D’Souza
- School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - David B. Nelson
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - J. Kevin Shoemaker
- School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Qi Fu
- Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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Walton SL, Denton KM. Extracting Information From Sympathetic Nerve Traffic in Gestational Hypertension. Hypertension 2023; 80:302-304. [PMID: 36652532 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.122.20181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Walton
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (S.L.W., K.M.D.), Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Physiology (S.L.W., K.M.D.), Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kate M Denton
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (S.L.W., K.M.D.), Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Physiology (S.L.W., K.M.D.), Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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Rim D, Henderson LA, Macefield VG. Brain and cardiovascular-related changes are associated with aging, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation. Clin Auton Res 2022; 32:409-422. [PMID: 36409380 DOI: 10.1007/s10286-022-00907-9] [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: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The neural pathways in which the brain regulates the cardiovascular system is via sympathetic and parasympathetic control of the heart and sympathetic control of the systemic vasculature. Various cortical and sub-cortical sites are involved, but how these critical brain regions for cardiovascular control are altered in healthy aging and other risk conditions that may contribute to cardiovascular disease is uncertain. METHODS Here we review the functional and structural brain changes in healthy aging, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation - noting their potential influence on the autonomic nervous system and hence on cardiovascular control. RESULTS Evidence suggests that aging, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation are each associated with functional and structural changes in specific areas of the central nervous system involved in autonomic control. Increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and significant alterations in the brain regions involved in the default mode network are commonly reported in aging, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS Further studies using functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coupled with autonomic nerve activity in healthy aging, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation promise to reveal the underlying brain circuitry modulating the abnormal sympathetic nerve activity in these conditions. This understanding will guide future therapies to rectify dysregulation of autonomic and cardiovascular control by the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donggyu Rim
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.,Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Luke A Henderson
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Vaughan G Macefield
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia. .,Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia. .,Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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