title: In vitro assessment of mouse uterine and fetoplacental vascular function.
abstract: Adequate blood flow provision through alterations in maternal vascular function is essential during pregnancy for optimal fetal development. Abnormal uterine vasculature adaptation, resulting in aberrant blood flow to the placenta, has been implicated as a possible cause of fetal growth restriction (FGR). Our study aimed to develop strategies to evaluate murine vascular function in pregnancy using wire myography. Main uterine artery loop and branch vessels isolated from near-term pregnant mice showed significant contraction to phenylephrine (PE). Endothelial-dependent relaxation was noted with acetylcholine (ACH). U46619 elicited significant contraction of umbilical arteries and veins, but relaxation was only demonstrable with the nitric oxide (NO) donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP). In conclusion, our data suggest that murine uteroplacental and fetoplacental arteries show distinct responses to vasoactive agents. Furthermore, this study indicates that wire myography represents a robust technique for the assessment of murine uteroplacental and fetoplacental vascular function, which will aid evaluation of mouse genetic models of FGR.
authors.affiliation: Maternal and Fetal Health Research Group, School of Clinical and Laboratory Sciences, University of Manchester, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Kusinski
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Sibley
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wareing
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000098:blood supply*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009213:Myography; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply*; D021041:Placental Circulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000502:physiology; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents