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Chronic intrauterine hypoxia interferes with aortic development in the late gestation ovine fetus
Author(s) -
Thompson Jennifer A.,
Richardson Bryan S.,
Gag Robert,
Regnault Timothy R. H.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.210625
Subject(s) - fetus , hypoxia (environmental) , gestation , fetal growth , intrauterine growth restriction , physiology , disease , medicine , prenatal development , pregnancy , endocrinology , biology , oxygen , genetics , chemistry , organic chemistry
Non‐technical summary It is now known that adverse events in the womb leading to fetal growth impairment increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adulthood. We show perturbed arterial development in sheep fetuses subjected to oxygen deprivation by placental dysfunction, which accounts for the majority of fetal growth restriction in developed countries. The altered structure and composition of the vascular wall exhibited by growth restricted sheep fetuses are akin to those changes present in the preclinical stage of CVD. Therefore, we reveal a plausible mechanism of CVD susceptibility in individuals growth restricted by placental dysfunction. In addition, we identified molecular factors involved in aberrant arterial formation and thus highlight the need for further investigation into these molecular pathways and possible prenatal interventions such as antioxidants.