title: Long-term maternal cardiovascular function in a mouse model of sFlt-1-induced preeclampsia.
abstract: Our aim was to evaluate the long-term effects of preeclampsia on vascular function in a mouse model induced by sFlt-1 overexpression. CD-1 mice at day 8 of gestation were injected via the tail vein with adenovirus carrying sFlt1 (AdsFlt1), adenovirus carrying the murine IgG2alpha Fc fragment as the adenovirus control (AdmFc), or saline. Vascular function in the mothers was investigated 6-8 mo after delivery by recording blood pressure (BP) by telemetry (AdsFlt1 n = 8, AdmFc n = 6, saline n = 4) and exploring carotid artery reactivity in a wire myograph (AdsFlt1 n = 6, AdmFc n = 8, saline n = 4). sFlt-1 blood levels at 6-8 mo postpartum had returned to low levels and were comparable between the three groups (P = 0.808). There was no statistically significant difference in BP (P = 0.067) or vascular reactivity between the three groups of postpartum mice (phenylephrine P = 0.079, thromboxane P = 0.979, serotonin P = 0.659, acetylcholine P = 0.795, sodium nitroprusside P = 0.728, isoproterenol P = 0.370). Our results indicate that in a mouse model overexpression of sFlt-1 does not lead to increased in BP and altered vascular function in the absence of the pregnancy and has no long-term effect on BP and vascular function in the postpartum mothers. Our findings favor the hypothesis that increased cardiovascular diseases in women with history of preeclampsia are likely the result of preexisting risk factors common to preeclampsia and cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1062, USA. egbytaut@utmb.edu
authors.forename: Egle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bytautiene
authors.forename: Fangxian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Esther H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Tamayo
authors.forename: Gary D V
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Hankins
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kublickiene
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Saade
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013686:Telemetry; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C501163:Flt1 protein, mouse; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1