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Stress in pregnancy: a new Wistar rat model for human preeclampsia
Nilton H Takiuti1, Soubhi Kahhale, Marcelo Zugaib
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, São Paulo University Medical School and Laboratory of Obstetric Physiology, Brazil. nilton.takiuti@hcnet.usp.br
Objective:
Our study evaluated the effects of chronic and/or acute stress on pregnant and nonpregnant female rats.
Study Design:
The rats were exposed to the sonic stimulus associated with overpopulation between days 7 and 14 of pregnancy. The rats were immobilized 2 days before the vascular reactivity experiments.
Results:
In 14-day pregnant rats, chronic stress led to lower weight, increased adrenal weight, lower endothelium-derived relaxing factor release, and lower fetal weight. In 20-day pregnant rats, chronic stress caused decreased weight gain, higher blood pressure, increased vasomotility and proteinuria, lower endothelium-derived relaxing factor release, and lower fetal weight. In the 20-day pregnant group, the higher adrenal weight resulted in higher blood pressure, lower vascular relaxation, and lower average fetal weight. A greater number of fetuses had higher adrenal weight, higher blood pressure, and lower vascular relaxation.
Conclusion:
The alterations found in the rats were similar to those that occur in human preeclampsia. Therefore, we propose a new animal model for human preeclampsia.