Effects of chronic intrauterine hypoxia on intimal-media thickening and strain rate of abdominal aorta of male offspring rabbits during adult age

Abstract

Objective To investigate the the effects of chronic intrauterine hypoxia on intimal-media thickening(IMT) and strain rate(SR) in abdominal aorta of male offspring rabbits during adult age.Methods Sixten New-Zealand rabbits were assigned randomly to 2 groups: chronic intrauterine hypoxia group (CIH, 12% O_2, n = 8) and normal oxygen group (NO,21%O_2, n = 8).After delivery,2 male offspring rabbits per litter were selected and breast-fed for 3 months, randomly divided into high-fat diet and normal diet groups.Finally, there were 4 groups in this experiment:chronic intrauterine hypoxia with high fat diet (CIH + HFD, n = 8) ,non-chronic intrauterine hypoxia with high fat diet (NCIH + HFD, n = 8),chronic intrauterine hypoxia with normal diet (CIH + ND, n = 8) and normal control (NC, n = 8).At sixth months of age, Serum levels of total cholesterol(TC) and triglyceride(TG) were assayed.SR in the abdominal aorta of male offspring rabbits was evaluated by ultrasonography.Then, abdominal aorta was taken out and observed by electron microscope and IMT was measured.Results CIH increased the levels of TC and TG (P < 0.01), thickened the IMT (P<0.05) and decreased the SR(P<0.05) of abdominal aorta of male offspring rabbits during adult age.There were relevant pathological changes in different groups.All these above-mentioned profiles were aggravated significantly after feeding high fat diet (P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusions CIH increased the IMT and decreased the SR of abdominal aorta of male offspring rabbits during adult age. Key words: Ultrasonography; Fetal growth retardation; Hyperlipidemias