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. 2014 Oct;211(4):424.e1-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2014.06.004. Epub 2014 Jun 3.

Effect of lactation on maternal postpartum cardiac function and adiposity: a murine model

Aaron T Poole  1 , Kathleen L Vincent  2 , Gayle L Olson  1 , Igor Patrikeev  3 , George R Saade  1 , Alison Stuebe  4 , Egle Bytautiene  1
Affiliations

Effect of lactation on maternal postpartum cardiac function and adiposity: a murine model

Aaron T Poole et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2014 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: Lactation is associated with reduction in maternal metabolic disease and hypertension later in life; however, findings in humans may be confounded by socioeconomic factors. We sought to determine the independent contribution of lactation on cardiovascular parameters and adiposity in a murine model.

Study design: Following delivery, CD-1 female mice were randomly divided into 2 groups: lactated (L; nursed pups for 3 weeks, n = 10), and nonlactated (NL; pups were removed after birth, n = 12). Blood pressure (BP) was assessed prepregnancy and at 1 and 2 months' postpartum. Visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue determined by computed tomography and left ventricular ejection fraction, cardiac output, and the E/A ratio determined by microultrasound were evaluated at 1 and 2 months' postpartum. The results were analyzed using a Student t test (significance at P < .05).

Results: We observed a significantly different maternal BP at 2 months' postpartum with relatively greater BP in NL (systolic BP: NL, 122.2 ± 7.2 vs L, 96.8 ± 9.8 mm Hg; P = .04; diastolic BP: NL, 87.0 ± 6.8 vs L, 65.9 ± 6.2 mm Hg; P = .04). Visceral adipose tissue was significantly increased in NL mice at 1 (22.0 ± 4.1% vs 10.7 ± 1.8%, P = .04) and 2 months' postpartum (22.9 ± 3.5% vs 11.2 ± 2.2%, P = .02), whereas subcutaneous adipose tissue did not differ between the groups. At 2 months' postpartum, ejection fraction (51.8 ± 1.5% vs 60.5 ± 3.8%; P = .04), cardiac output (14.2 ± 1.0 vs 18.0 ± 1.3 mL/min; P = .02) and mitral valve E/A ratio (1.38 ± 0.06 vs 1.82 ± 0.13; P = .04) were significantly lower in NL mice than L mice.

Conclusion: Our data provide evidence that interruption of lactation adversely affects postpartum maternal cardiovascular function and adiposity.

Keywords: CD-1 mouse; adipose; blood pressure; lactation; maternal health.

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Conflict of interest statement

DISCLOSURE: The authors report no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Blood Pressure
Systolic blood pressure (A, SBP), diastolic blood pressure (B, DBP) and total peripheral resistance (C, TPR) in dams that lactated and did not lactate. Data are expressed as dot plot with a line at the mean and whiskers showing standard deviation. PP, postpartum
Figure 2
Figure 2. Ejection Fraction
Cardiac output (A), feft ventricular ejection fraction (B) and left ventricular E/A ratio at mitral valve (C) of dams that lactated and did not lactate. Data are expressed as dot plot with a line at the mean and whiskers showing standard deviation. PP, postpartum
Figure 3
Figure 3. Subcutaneous and Visceral Adipose Tissue
A. % subcutaneous adipose tissue and B, % visceral adipose tissue of dams at 1 and 2 months postpartum that lactated and did not lactate. Data are expressed as dot plot with a line at the mean and whiskers showing standard deviation. PP, postpartum; SAT, subcutaneous adipose tissue; VAT, visceral adipose tissue
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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