Abstract
Reduced placental perfusion is a central component of many pathological pregnancies. Using a rat model in which chronic reductions in uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) had been surgically produced, we have shown that resistance sized mesenteric arteries from pregnant RUPP rats exhibit a significant increase in myogenicity and decreased responsiveness to the endothelium-dependent vasodilator methylcholine compared to controls. Thus, suggesting that endothelium dependent vasodilation is altered in the model. (FASEB J 2004, A475.5). Such vascular changes may be associated with oxidative stress increases due to decreased ascorbic acid (AA). Pregnant 10–12 week old Sprague-Dawley rats underwent RUPP or a SHAM operation (n=8, 9) on day 14 of gestation, and experiments were carried out on day 20. Blood pressure, maternal plasma, fetal number and weight were collected upon termination. Plasma AA was measured by HPLC with UV detection. RUPP resulted in statistically significant maternal hypertension (p=0.009), and reduced fetal number (p=0.02) and weight (p=0.04). Significant decreases were seen in plasma AA levels from RUPP compared to SHAM rats (14.2±1.6 vs. 22.14±1.4 respectively; p=0.007). These results support the hypothesis that RUPP results in decreased plasma AA. This decrease likely contributes to the maternal pathophysiology of RUPP, and potentially related human diseases, such as preeclampsia.
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