Prenatal Programming of Hypertension Induces Sympathetic Overactivity in Response to Physical Stress

• DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.112.199356
• Publication Date: 2012-11-14T01:26:52Z
• Authors: Masaki Mizuno; Khurrum Siddique; Michel Baum; Scott A. Smith
• Keywords: Sympathetic nervous system; Mean arterial pressure; Prenatal Stress; Decerebration

Small-for-gestational-age infants are known to develop hypertension in adulthood. This prenatal programming of (PPH) can result from several insults including maternal dietary protein deprivation, uteroplacental insufficiency, and administration glucocorticoids. The mechanisms underlying the development remain unclear although sympathetic nervous system has been indirectly implicated. study was designed directly measure renal nerve activity both at rest during physical stress an animal model PPH. adult male offspring rats fed either a 6% or 20% diet (control) were investigated. Conscious systolic blood pressure measured by tail cuff significantly higher PPH compared with control (140 ± 3 versus 128 mm Hg; P<0.05). Baseline mean arterial pressure, heart rate, not different between groups isoflurane anesthesia after decerebration. Physical induced decerebrate animals activating exercise pressor reflex static muscle contraction. Stimulation evoked larger changes baseline (40 7 20 4 P<0.05), rate (19 5 1 bpm; (198 29% 68 14%; P<0.05) as control. data demonstrate that response is markedly exaggerated may play significant role adults born small for gestational age.