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In vitro assessment of mouse fetal abdominal aortic vascular function.
- Source :
-
American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology [Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol] 2014 Sep 15; Vol. 307 (6), pp. R746-54. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Jul 23. - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Fetal growth restriction (FGR) affects 3-8% of human pregnancies. Mouse models have provided important etiological data on FGR; they permit the assessment of treatment strategies on the physiological function of both mother and her developing offspring. Our study aimed to 1) develop a method to assess vascular function in fetal mice and 2) as a proof of principle ascertain whether a high dose of sildenafil citrate (SC; Viagra) administered to the pregnant dam affected fetal vascular reactivity. We developed a wire myography methodology for evaluation of fetal vascular function in vitro using the placenta-specific insulin-like growth factor II (Igf2) knockout mouse (P0; a model of FGR). Vascular function was determined in abdominal aortas isolated from P0 and wild-type (WT) fetuses at embryonic day (E) 18.5 of gestation. A subset of dams received SC 0.8 mg/ml via drinking water from E12.5; data were compared with water-only controls. Using wire myography, we found that fetal aortic rings exhibited significant agonist-induced contraction, and endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent relaxation. Sex-specific alterations in reactivity were noted in both strains. Maternal treatment with SC significantly attenuated endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent relaxation of fetal aortic rings. Mouse fetal abdominal aortas reproducibly respond to vasoactive agents. Study of these vessels in mouse genetic models of pregnancy complications may 1) help to delineate early signs of abnormal vascular reactivity and 2) inform whether treatments given to the mother during pregnancy may impact upon fetal vascular function.<br /> (Copyright © 2014 the American Physiological Society.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Aorta, Abdominal drug effects
Aorta, Abdominal embryology
Aorta, Abdominal metabolism
Disease Models, Animal
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Female
Fetal Growth Retardation genetics
Fetal Growth Retardation metabolism
Gestational Age
Insulin-Like Growth Factor II deficiency
Insulin-Like Growth Factor II genetics
Mice
Mice, Knockout
Phenotype
Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors pharmacology
Piperazines pharmacology
Pregnancy
Purines pharmacology
Sildenafil Citrate
Sulfones pharmacology
Vasoconstriction
Vasoconstrictor Agents pharmacology
Vasodilation
Vasodilator Agents pharmacology
Aorta, Abdominal physiopathology
Fetal Growth Retardation physiopathology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1522-1490
- Volume :
- 307
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 25056105
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00058.2014