[Dietary effect on plasma lipid changes and pregnant outcomes in early-onset pre-eclampsia-like murine model]

To investigate the effects of dietary factors on the pre-eclampsia-like mouse model development at multiple stages of gestation.

Pre-eclampsia-like model was established in C57 wild-type (WT) and apoE(-/-) pregnant mice at early, middle and late gestational stages by injecting nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) subcutaneously. Control groups received normal saline (NS) simultaneously. Each group was subdivided into standard chow subgroup (SC, n = 6) and high-fat diet subgroup (HF, n = 6). Blood pressure, urinary protein and plasma lipid were measured and fetal outcomes compared. Data were analyzed statistically.

In early and middle L-NAME subgroups, the plasma concentrations of cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA) all increased. And the early L-NAME subgroup in apoE(-/-) mice was the most remarkable (P < 0.05). In apoE(-/-) groups (both L-NAME and NS groups), the plasma concentrations of total TC and TG were higher than those of WT groups (P < 0.05). But there was no significant difference in FFA between them. The plasma lipid levels of apoE(-/-) HF + L-NAME group were the highest among all the groups (P < 0.05). Fetal and placental weights significantly decreased in early and middle L-NAME groups in both apoE(-/-) and WT mice (P < 0.05). But no significant difference was found between late L-NAME subgroup and NS groups (P > 0.05). Compared with WT groups, the weights were lower in apoE(-/-) mice. The fetal and placental weights in HF groups were lower than SC groups and the changes in early HF + L-NAME subgroup in apoE(-/-) mice were the most remarkable (P < 0.05). A lower live fetal rate and a higher absorbed fetal rate were found in early L-NAME groups than those of the NS groups (P < 0.05).

Pre-eclampsia occurring at an early stage is more likely to have abnormal plasma lipid levels and adverse feto-placental outcomes. High-fat dietary may aggravate the impact of L-NAME pre-eclampsia on pregnancy outcomes at an early gestational stage especially in ApoE(-/-) mice.