Partial contributions of developmental hypoxia and undernutrition to prenatal alterations in somatic growth and cardiovascular structure and function

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare and contrast the effects of developmental hypoxia vs undernutrition on fetal growth, cardiovascular morphology, and function.

Study design: On day 15 of gestation, Wistar dams were divided into control, hypoxic (10% O(2)), or undernourished (35% reduction in food intake) pregnancy. On day 20, fetal thoraces were fixed, and the fetal heart and aorta underwent quantitative histological analysis. In a separate group, fetal aortic vascular reactivity was determined via wire myography.

Results: Both hypoxic and undernourished pregnancy was associated with asymmetric fetal growth restriction. Pregnancy complicated by hypoxia promoted fetal aortic thickening without changes in cardiac volumes when expressed as a percentage of total heart volume. In contrast, maternal undernutrition affected fetal cardiac morphology without changes in aortic structure. Fetal aortic vascular reactivity was also differentially affected by hypoxia or undernutrition.

Conclusion: Developmental hypoxia or undernutrition in late gestation has differential effects on fetal cardiovascular morphology and function.