Periconceptional nutrition programs development of the cardiovascular system in the fetal sheep.
It has been proposed that fetal adaptations to intrauterine nutrient deprivation permanently reprogram the cardiovascular system. We investigated the impact of restricted periconceptional nutrition and/or restricted gestational nutrition on fetal arterial blood pressure (BP), heart rate, rate pressure product, and the fetal BP responses to ANG II and the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril during late gestation. Restricted periconceptional nutrition resulted in an increase in fetal mean arterial BP between 115 and 125 days gestation (restricted 41.5 +/- 2.8 mmHg, n = 12; control 38.5 +/- 1.5 mmHg, n = 13) and between 135 and 147 days gestation (restricted 50.5 +/- 2.2 mmHg, n = 8; control 42.5 +/- 1.9 mmHg, n = 10) as well as an increase in the rate pressure product in twin, but not singleton, fetuses between 115 and 147 days gestation. Mean BP and fetal plasma ACTH were also positively correlated in twin, but not singleton, fetuses. This is the first demonstration that maternal undernutrition during the periconceptional period results in an increase in fetal arterial BP. This increase occurs concomitantly with an increase in fetal ACTH but is not dependent on activation of the fetal renin-angiotensin system.
Department of Physiology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, South Australia.
L J
LJ
Edwards
I C
IC
McMillen
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002216:Captopril / Q000494:pharmacology; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010927:Placental Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012756:Sheep; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D002216:Captopril; D010100:Oxygen; D006854:Hydrocortisone