Abstract
ObjectiveTo examine whether the cardiac, renal and uterine physiological hemodynamic changes during gestation are altered in rats with an early and prolonged exposure to a high fat diet (HFD).MethodsArterial pressure and cardiac, renal, uterine and radial arteries hemodynamic changes during gestation were examined in adult SD rats exposed to normal (13%) (n = 8) or high (60%) (n = 8) fat diets from weaning. Plethysmography, high-resolution high-frequency ultrasonography and clearance of an inulin analog were used to evaluate the arterial pressure and hemodynamic changes before and at days 7, 14 and 19 of gestation.ResultsArterial pressure was higher (P<0.05) in rats with high than in those with normal (NFD) fat diet before pregnancy (123 ±3 and 110 ±3 mmHg, respectively) and only decreased at day 14 of gestation in rats with NFD (98±4 mmHg, P<0.05). A significant increment in stroke volume (42 ±10%) and cardiac output (51 ±12%) was found at day 19 of pregnancy in rats with NFD. The changes in stroke volume and cardiac output were similar in rats with NFD and HFD. When compared to the values obtained before pregnancy, a transitory elevation in renal blood flow was found at day 14 of pregnancy in both groups. However, glomerular filtration rate only increased (P<0.05) in rats with NFD at days 14 (20 ±7%) and 19 (27 ±8%) of gestation. The significant elevations of mean velocity, and velocity time integral throughout gestation in radial (127 ±26% and 111 ±23%, respectively) and uterine (91 ±16% and 111 ±25%, respectively) arteries of rats with NFD were not found in rats with an early and prolonged HFD.SummaryThis study reports novel findings showing that the early and prolonged exposure to a HFD leads to a significant impairment in the renal, uterine and radial arteries hemodynamic changes associated to gestation.
Highlights
The systemic, renal and uterine hemodynamic changes throughout gestation have been extensively examined [1,2,3,4,5] but the results obtained are very often contradictories because the methods used were not adequate for long-term studies in the same subjects
When compared to the values obtained before pregnancy, a transitory elevation in renal blood flow was found at day 14 of pregnancy in both groups
This study reports novel findings showing that the early and prolonged exposure to a high fat diet (HFD) leads to a significant impairment in the renal, uterine and radial arteries hemodynamic changes associated to gestation
Summary
The systemic, renal and uterine hemodynamic changes throughout gestation have been extensively examined [1,2,3,4,5] but the results obtained are very often contradictories because the methods used were not adequate for long-term studies in the same subjects. It is accepted that the physiological changes throughout gestation include a decrease in arterial pressure (AP) [1,2], an increase in cardiac output (CO) [3,4], an elevation in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) [1,6] and a progressive increment in the uterine blood flow [5] These hemodynamic changes are necessary to provide the nutritional needs of the fetus. Very little is known on the cardiovascular, renal and uterine hemodynamic adaptations to pregnancy in subjects with a prolonged exposure to a high fat diet (HFD) from an early age This information is important because the prevalence of childhood overweight is set to rise even more during the years [10] and obesity induced by overnourishment in adolescents results in major placental restriction during gestation [11]. Hemodynamic changes were examined in radial arteries because they are closer to known sites of vascular pathology in human intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) placentas [13]
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