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Prenatal dehydration alters renin-angiotensin system associated with angiotensin-increased blood pressure in young

Junchang Guan1, Caiping Mao, Feichao Xu

  • 1Perinatal Biology Center, Soochow University First Affiliated Hospital, Suzhou, China.

Hypertension Research : Official Journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension
|September 26, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Maternal dehydration during pregnancy alters fetal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) development, leading to increased blood pressure (BP) in offspring when exposed to angiotensin II. This highlights the impact of prenatal stress on cardiovascular regulation.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is crucial for maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis.
  • Maternal health during pregnancy significantly influences offspring development and long-term health outcomes.
  • Understanding the impact of environmental stressors like dehydration on fetal RAS development is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of maternal water deprivation during late gestation on the fetal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in rats.
  • To examine the influence of prenatal dehydration on the cardiovascular responses and blood pressure regulation in adolescent offspring.
  • To assess changes in fetal and offspring cardiac angiotensin II receptor expression.

Main Methods:

  • Pregnant rats were subjected to water deprivation for 3 days during late gestation.
  • Fetal cardiac ultrastructure, liver angiotensinogen mRNA, plasma Ang I and Ang II, and cardiac AT(1) and AT(2) receptor mRNA and protein levels were analyzed.
  • Cardiovascular responses to intravenous Angiotensin II infusion and baroreflex sensitivity were tested in adolescent offspring.

Main Results:

  • Maternal water deprivation led to decreased fetal body and heart weight, increased fetal plasma sodium and osmolality.
  • Fetal liver angiotensinogen mRNA and plasma Ang II concentrations were elevated.
  • Prenatal dehydration increased fetal and offspring cardiac AT(2) receptor expression and resulted in elevated blood pressure in response to Ang II infusion in offspring.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal exposure to maternal dehydration significantly impacts the development of the renin-angiotensin system in fetal rats.
  • This developmental alteration is associated with an increased blood pressure response to Angiotensin II in offspring.
  • The study underscores the long-term cardiovascular consequences of prenatal dehydration on offspring physiology.

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