Evaluation of the sodium nitrate effects on myocardial injury biomarkers troponin I and creatine kinase-MB in a preeclampsia model induced by placental ischemia in rats

• Grant number: 24/16298-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Cardiorenal Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Alan Candido Dias Junior
• Grantee: Lucas Crespo da Costa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is an endogenous mediator involved in several physiological aspects of pregnancy, including maternal systemic vasodilation. Deficiency of NO synthesis during pregnancy is associated with hypertensive disorders, such as preeclampsia, which represents one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in pregnant women worldwide. Among the clinical manifestations of the disease, pregnant women with preeclampsia may present cardiac structural and functional impairment, denoting the presence of myocardial injury. Therapies that favor the bioavailability of NO in preeclampsia have been the target of investigation due to the benefits they present. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the impact of sodium nitrate administration in an experimental model of preeclampsia on protection against myocardial injuries. To this end, pregnant rats will be divided into four groups: normotensive pregnant rats (Norm-Preg), normotensive pregnant rats treated with nitrate (Norm-Preg+Nitrate), pregnant rats subjected to the reduction of uterine perfusion pressure model (RUPP group) and pregnant rats undergoing to the RUPP model treated with nitrate (RUPP+nitrate). To induce clinical signs of the disease, pregnant rats will undergo a surgical procedure to reduce uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP). Fetal and placental weights will be recorded and biomarkers of myocardial injury CK-MB and cTnI as well as the cardiac function will be evaluated, in addition to NO bioavailability and lipid peroxidation. The hypothesis is that the administration of oral sodium nitrate increases the bioavailability of NO and decreases the incidence of myocardial injury.