Investigation of esomeprazol's effects in hypertension and vascular dysfunction induced by experimental pre-eclampsia in rats

• Grant number: 23/14884-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Cardiorenal Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Alan Candido Dias Junior
• Grantee: Augusto Antunes Oliveira Fraga da Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Preeclamsia is a disease caused by deficient trophoblastic invasion during the placentation period, bringing about malformation of the spiral arteries. As a result, placental hypoxia and ischemia occurs, with liberation of anti-angiogenic factors, pro inflammatory antigens and reactive oxygen species from the placenta that will entail in generalized maternal endothelial dysfunction and, therefore, the main symptoms of preeclampsia. This study proposes that esomeprazol, a proton-pump inhibitor used to treat gastrointestinal ulcers and proven safe for use during pregnancy, could be repositioned to attenuate preeclampsia, a disease that still remains without effective pharmacological treatment. The method used in this study will be the animal model of Reduced Utero-placental Perfusion Pressure (RUPP) to induce experimental preeclampsia. Pregnant rats (n= 40, 10/group) will be divided in four experimental groups: 1. Normotensive pregnant rats treated with saline solution; 2. Hypertensive pregnant rats treated with saline solution; 3; Normotensive pregnant rats treated with esomeprazol 3,5 mg/kg/day; 4. Hypertensive pregnant rats treated with esomeprazol 3,5 mg/kg/day. On the 14º day of gestation the RUPP procedure will be carried out and the euthanasia on the 21º. The drug effect on gestational hypertension and oxidative stress will be evaluated by the collection of samples from reproductive organs and arteries from the mother.