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Myocardial Infarction in Neonatal Mice, A Model of Cardiac Regeneration
Published on: May 24, 2016
Developmental programming resulting from maternal obesity in mice: effects on myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury
John W Calvert1, David J Lefer, Susheel Gundewar
1Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Insights
Maternal obesity during pregnancy can program offspring, increasing their heart
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Developmental Biology
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Prenatal and early life events significantly influence long-term health, predisposing individuals to diseases like hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
- Maternal stress and obesity are identified as critical factors in prenatal programming, affecting fetal development and cardiovascular health.
- Obesity is a growing concern, with a substantial portion of childbearing women affected, potentially exacerbating pregnancy-related health issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of maternal obesity on the cardiovascular system of offspring.
- To determine the susceptibility of the heart to ischemia-reperfusion injury in offspring from obese mothers using an animal model.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an animal model (mice) to study the effects of maternal obesity on offspring.
- Assessed the susceptibility of the heart to ischemia-reperfusion injury in normal offspring born to obese agouti mouse dams.
Main Results:
- Offspring from obese agouti mouse dams exhibited increased susceptibility to heart ischemia-reperfusion injury.
- This finding suggests a direct programming effect of maternal obesity on cardiovascular vulnerability in offspring.
Conclusions:
- Maternal obesity during pregnancy can lead to long-term cardiovascular programming in offspring.
- The study highlights increased susceptibility to cardiac injury as a potential consequence of this programming.
- These findings offer insights into the intergenerational impact of obesity on cardiovascular health.
Abstract:
A comprehensive number of epidemiological and animal studies suggest that prenatal and early life events are important determinants for disorders later in life. Among them, prenatal stress (i.e. stress experienced by the pregnant mother with impact on the fetal ontogeny) has clear programming effects on the cardiovascular system. A fetus developing in adverse conditions becomes an adult who is susceptible to disease, which may include hypertension, insulin resistance, altered blood lipid levels and cardiovascular disease. Recent evidence demonstrates that maternal programming can occur in the absence of other adverse environmental factors. Obesity, which is becoming a problem of large proportions in Western countries, is a possible cause of programming. With over 30% of the population of the USA currently obese, many mothers suffer from obesity during their child-bearing years (in fact, these conditions are often aggravated during pregnancy). One of the targets of programming is the cardiovascular system, and reported consequences include hypertension, endothelial dysfunction and vascular abnormalities. The overall goal of our study was to investigate the susceptibility of the heart to ischaemia-reperfusion in an animal model of maternal obesity. Our data demonstrate that normal (non-mutant) offspring from obese agouti mouse dams had an increased susceptibility to ischaemia-reperfusion injury. These data may provide insights into the long-term cardiovascular consequences of programming.