Decreased Uterine Vascularization and Uterine Arterial Expansive Remodeling with Reduced Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in Hypertensive Pregnancy.

Decreased Uterine Vascularization and Uterine Arterial Expansive Remodeling with Reduced Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in Hypertensive Pregnancy. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2019 Dec 13;: Authors: Lin C, He H, Cui N, Ren Z, Zhu M, Khalil RA Abstract Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related disorder characterized by hypertension-in-pregnancy (HTN-Preg), and inadequate trophoblast invasion of the uterine wall could be initiating events. We hypothesized that HTN-Preg involves decreased uterine vascularization and arterial remodeling by MMPs, and accumulation of collagen. Blood pressure (BP) and fetal parameters were assessed in normal Preg rats and Preg rats with reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP), and uterine vascularity, MMP levels and collagen deposition were measured. BP was higher, and the uterus weight, litter size, and pup weight were reduced in RUPP vs Preg rats. Uterine tissue sections showed reduced number (5.75±0.95 vs 11.50±0.87) and size (0.05±0.01 vs 0.12±0.02mm2) of uterine arterioles, and diminished intima, media and adventitia of the uterine arterial wall in RUPP vs Preg rats. Immunohistochemistry showed localization of endothelial cell marker CD31 and smooth muscle marker a-actin in uterine arterial intima and media, respectively, and confirmed reduction in number and size of uterine arterioles in RUPP vs Preg rats. The cytotrophoblast marker cytokeratin-7 showed less immunostaining and invasion of uteri...
Source: American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology - Category: Physiology Authors: Tags: Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol Source Type: research