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Increased blood pressure in the offspring of diabetic mothers

Rogerio B Wichi1, Silvia B Souza, Dulce E Casarini

  • 1Nephrology Department, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil.

American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology
|January 22, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Maternal diabetes in rats leads to hypertension and impaired baroreflex sensitivity in offspring. This study highlights how in-utero hyperglycemia impacts offspring cardiovascular health and activates the renin-angiotensin system.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Maternal diabetes and hyperglycemia are known risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes.
  • The long-term effects of in-utero exposure to a diabetic environment on offspring cardiovascular health require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of maternal diabetes during pregnancy on the cardiovascular function of adult offspring in a rat model.
  • To assess arterial pressure, heart rate, baroreflex sensitivity, vascular responsiveness, and tissue angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in offspring of diabetic and control rats.

Main Methods:

  • Diabetes was induced in pregnant Wistar rats using streptozotocin.
  • Cardiovascular parameters including arterial pressure, heart rate, and baroreflex sensitivity were measured in 2-month-old offspring.
  • Vascular responses to phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside, and ACE activity in heart, kidney, and lung were determined.

Main Results:

  • Offspring of diabetic rats (OD) exhibited significantly higher systolic arterial pressure compared to controls (OC).
  • OD rats showed reduced baroreflex sensitivity and increased vascular responsiveness to phenylephrine.
  • Increased ACE activity was observed in the heart, kidney, and lung of OD rats.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal diabetes during gestation adversely affects offspring cardiovascular function, leading to hypertension and baroreflex dysfunction.
  • The findings suggest an activation of the tissue renin-angiotensin system in offspring exposed to a diabetic intrauterine environment.
  • These results underscore the importance of glycemic control during pregnancy for long-term offspring cardiovascular health.

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