The effects of anaemia as a programming agent in the fetal heart

Lo Davis, K. L. Thornburg, G. D. Giraud

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

The intrauterine environment plays a powerful role in determining the life-long risk of cardiovascular disease. A number of stressors are well known to affect the development of the cardiovascular system in utero including over/under maternal nutrition, excess glucocorticoid and chronic hypoxia. Chronic fetal anaemia in sheep is a complex stressor that alters cardiac loading conditions, causes hypoxic stress and stimulates large changes in flow to specific tissues, including large increases in resting coronary blood flow and conductance. Decreased viscosity can account for approximately half of the increased flow. It appears that immature hearts are 'plastic' in that increases in coronary conductance with fetal anaemia persist into adulthood even if the anaemia is corrected before birth. These large changes in conductance are possible only through extensive remodelling of the coronary tree. Adult hearts that were once anaemic in utero are more resistant to hypoxic stress as adults but it is not known whether such an adaptation would be deleterious in later life. These studies indicate the need for investigation into the basic mechanisms of coronary tree remodelling in the immature myocardium. New information on these mechanisms is likely to lead to better prevention of and therapies for adult-onset coronary disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)35-41
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Physiology
Volume565
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - May 15 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The effects of anaemia as a programming agent in the fetal heart'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this