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Altered Uterine Artery Reactivity from Pregnant Rats with Reduced Uterine Perfusion Pressure
Author(s) -
Reho John J,
Novak Jacqueline,
Ramirez Rolando J
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.640.28
During pregnancy, the uterine circulation is crucial in providing nutrients and oxygen to the fetus. Alterations in uterine artery reactivity may be involved in poor feto‐placental perfusion. While the etiology of preeclampsia remains unknown, a reduction in placental perfusion clearly plays a role in the pathology. The direct impact of reduced uteroplacental perfusion on uterine artery reactivity remains unclear. We hypothesize that uterine artery reactivity will be altered in pregnant rats with reductions in uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP). Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to RUPP or SHAM surgery on gestational Day 14. At Day 21, the animals were terminated and resistance (~270um) uterine arteries were mounted on a pressure arteriograph where myogenic reactivity and phenylephrine constriction were assessed. Uterine arteries from RUPP dams exhibited increased myogenic reactivity compared to SHAM controls (p<0.05). Nitric oxide synthase inhibition (L‐NMA) significantly increased myogenic responses in uterine arteries from SHAM controls (p<0.05) but not RUPP rats. Phenylephrine constriction was unaltered in RUPP and SHAM uterine arteries. These data suggest that myogenic reactivity is increased in uterine arteries from RUPP pregnant rats due to decreased nitric oxide availability which may contribute to the increased blood pressure associated with this animal model and preeclampsia.