Reduced systolic pressure load decreases cell-cycle activity in the fetal sheep heart

P. F. O'Tierney, D. F. Anderson, J. J. Faber, S. Louey, K. L. Thornburg, G. D. Giraud

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

The fetal heart is highly sensitive to changes in mechanical load. We have previously demonstrated that increased cardiac load can stimulate cell cycle activity and maturation of immature cardiomyocytes, but the effects of reduced load are not known. Sixteen fetal sheep were given either continuous intravenous infusion of lactated Ringer solution (LR) or enalaprilat, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor beginning at 127 days gestational age. After 8 days, fetal arterial pressure in the enalaprilat-infused fetuses (23.8 ± 2.8 mmHg) was lower than that of control fetuses (47.5 ± 4.7 mmHg) (P < 0.0001). Although the body weights of the two groups of fetuses were similar, the heart weight-to-body weight ratios of the enalaprilat-infused fetuses were less than those of the LR-infused fetuses (5.6 ± 0.5 g/kg vs. 7.0 ± 0.6 g/kg, P < 0.0001). Dimensions of ventricular myocytes were not different between control and enalaprilat-infused fetuses. However, there was a significant decrease in cell cycle activity in both the right ventricle (P < 0.005) and the left ventricle (P < 0.002) of the enalaprilat-infused fetuses. Thus, we conclude a sustained reduction in systolic pressure load decreases hyperplastic growth in the fetal heart.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)R573-R578
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Volume299
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2010

Keywords

  • Blood pressure
  • Cardiomyocyte
  • Enalaprilat
  • Hyperplasia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Physiology (medical)

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