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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis
Published on: January 7, 2018
In utero undernutrition in rats induces increased vascular smooth muscle content in the offspring
Omid Khorram1, Mazdak Momeni, Monica Ferrini
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA. okhorram@obgyn.humc.edu
Insights
Maternal food restriction during pregnancy alters offspring vascular smooth muscle development, potentially programming hypertension. This study reveals early structural changes in blood vessels due to in-utero undernutrition.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Cardiovascular physiology
- Nutritional science
Background:
- Prenatal undernutrition is a growing concern with potential long-term health implications.
- Early life vascular development is critical for lifelong cardiovascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that in-utero undernutrition alters the structure of conduit and resistance vessels in offspring.
- To determine the impact of maternal food restriction on vascular smooth muscle development.
Main Methods:
- A rodent model was used with dams subjected to 50% food restriction from day 10 of gestation to term.
- Vascular smooth muscle content and caliber in offspring were assessed using quantitative histology and Western blot analysis.
Main Results:
- Maternal food restriction significantly increased smooth muscle content in offspring aortas and mesenteric arterioles at 1 day and 2 months old.
- Histology and Western blot confirmed increased smooth muscle alpha-actin expression in offspring exposed to food restriction.
- Vascular smooth muscle increase in aortas was attributed to cellular hypertrophy.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal undernutrition leads to alterations in vascular smooth muscle in offspring.
- These vascular changes may represent a mechanism for the programming of hypertension in offspring.
- Early developmental programming of cardiovascular disease risk is suggested.
Objective:
We hypothesized that undernutrition in utero alters the structure of conduit and resistance vessels early in development.
Study Design:
We studied a rodent model in which dams were 50% food restricted from day 10 of gestation to term. Vascular smooth muscle content and vascular caliber in the offspring were examined by quantitative histologic methods and by Western blot analysis.
Results:
Maternal food restriction induced a significant increase in the smooth muscle content of 1-day- and 2-month-old offspring aortas and mesenteric arterioles of different luminal diameters. Histologic data were confirmed by Western blot analysis that showed greater expression of smooth muscle alpha-actin in 1-day-old food restriction aortas. The increase in vascular smooth muscle in the aortas was determined to be the result of cellular hypertrophy.
Conclusion:
These results demonstrate that the vascular smooth muscle is altered in food-restriction offspring and that this may be a mechanism for the programming of offspring hypertension.
