Evaluation of cardiovascular repercussions in virgin and pregnant adult rats, descendants of the first generation, of rats with experimentally induced gestational hypertension

• Grant number: 20/03245-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2020
• End date: February 28, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Cardiorenal Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Alan Candido Dias Junior
• Grantee: Filipe Trindade Bozoni
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Pre-eclampsia is a gestational hypertensive disorder characterized by systolic and diastolic blood pressure commonly greater than 140/90 mmHg and which usually appears after the 20th week of pregnancy. Studies suggest increases in oxidative stress and antiangiogenic factors in pre-eclampsia with a concomitant reduction in vasodilator mediators and deficient placentation, which are accompanied by endothelial dysfunction and increased peripheral vascular resistance. Our objective is to evaluate the cardiovascular repercussions in offspring of rats with experimental gestational hypertension. The descendant rats will be distributed as follows: Group 1 (virgins descended from normotensive mothers); Group 2 (virgin descendants of hypertensive mothers); Group 3 (pregnant rats descendants of normotensive mothers) and Group 4 (pregnant rats descendants of hypertensive mothers). At 90 days of age, groups 1 and 2will be killed and the abdominal aorta will be removed and used in vascular reactivity tests. The thoracic artery will also be removed to assess the metabolites of nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). We will perform western blotting in thoracic artery homogenate to examine the expression of the main enzymes that synthesize NO andH2S. Groups 3 and 4 (pregnant rats) will be killed on the 20th day of pregnancy and will be submitted to the same tests performed in groups 1 and 2 (virgin rats) with additional placental evaluation. We will investigate the impact of gestational hypertension on the cardiovascular system of the offspring, examining hemodynamic parameters and vascular reactivity. Therefore, our hypothesis is that there are detrimental cardiovascular repercussions in the offspring of mothers with gestational hypertension, during adulthood and during pregnancy. (AU)