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Published on: October 25, 2015
Fetal programming of hypertension
1Department of Physiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N. State St. Jackson, MS 39216-4505, USA. balexander@physiology.umsmed.edu
Insights
Low birth weight (LBW) is linked to hypertension due to multifactorial mechanisms involving altered regulatory systems and renal functions. Fetal programming in adverse environments causes permanent adaptive responses leading to hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Developmental Biology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Epidemiological studies show an inverse relationship between low birth weight (LBW) and hypertension.
- Animal studies increasingly support the link between LBW and hypertension.
- Mechanisms involve multifactorial alterations in regulatory systems and renal functions for arterial pressure control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review adaptive responses in animal models of fetal programming.
- To discuss mechanisms mediating fetal programming of hypertension.
- To understand how adverse fetal environments lead to hypertension.
Main Methods:
- Review of animal models inducing suboptimal fetal environments.
- Analysis of studies on fetal programming and hypertension.
- Synthesis of findings on structural and physiological alterations.
Main Results:
- Suboptimal fetal environments induce permanent adaptive responses.
- These responses involve structural and physiological alterations.
- Fetal programming is a key mechanism linking LBW to hypertension.
Conclusions:
- Fetal programming in response to adverse environments is a significant factor in hypertension development.
- Understanding these adaptive responses is crucial for preventing hypertension.
- Further research into mediating mechanisms is warranted.
Abstract:
Numerous epidemiological studies suggest an inverse relationship between low birth weight (LBW) and hypertension, an observation now supported by numerous animal studies. The mechanisms linking LBW and hypertension appear to be multifactorial and involve alterations in the normal regulatory systems and renal functions involved in the long-term control of arterial pressure. Recent studies using animal models of fetal programming suggest that programming during fetal life occurs in response to an adverse fetal environment and results in permanent adaptive responses that lead to structural and physiological alterations and the subsequent development of hypertension. This review summarizes the adaptive responses observed in the different models used to induce a suboptimal fetal environment and discusses insights into the mechanisms mediating the fetal programming of hypertension.
