Eastern Kentucky University
Characterization of Cardiac Remodeling During Pregnancy in Rats
Institution
Eastern Kentucky University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Rebekah Waikel
Abstract
During pregnancy, an increase in blood volume occurs to compensate for fetal development, resulting in cardiac hypertrophy. For the majority of women, this physiological cardiac hypertrophy resolves following pregnancy. Prolonged cardiac hypertrophy can lead to heart failure. We propose that by studying the biochemical mechanisms that mediate healthy cardiac remodeling associated with pregnancy, we will gain a better understanding of mechanisms involved in pathological cardiac hypertrophy. To determine the biochemical changes that occur during pregnancy induced cardiac remodeling, we subjected rats to timed matings and collected morphological and biochemical data from not pregnant, 19 days pregnant, and 24 hours postpartum. We found differences in heart weights on the 19th day of pregnancy as compared to their non-pregnant littermates. Real-time PCR analysis revealed alterations in expression of some gene markers of hypertrophy during pregnancy and postpartum. Our data demonstrates pregnancy induced cardiac remodeling in the rat involves both morphological and biochemical changes.
Characterization of Cardiac Remodeling During Pregnancy in Rats
During pregnancy, an increase in blood volume occurs to compensate for fetal development, resulting in cardiac hypertrophy. For the majority of women, this physiological cardiac hypertrophy resolves following pregnancy. Prolonged cardiac hypertrophy can lead to heart failure. We propose that by studying the biochemical mechanisms that mediate healthy cardiac remodeling associated with pregnancy, we will gain a better understanding of mechanisms involved in pathological cardiac hypertrophy. To determine the biochemical changes that occur during pregnancy induced cardiac remodeling, we subjected rats to timed matings and collected morphological and biochemical data from not pregnant, 19 days pregnant, and 24 hours postpartum. We found differences in heart weights on the 19th day of pregnancy as compared to their non-pregnant littermates. Real-time PCR analysis revealed alterations in expression of some gene markers of hypertrophy during pregnancy and postpartum. Our data demonstrates pregnancy induced cardiac remodeling in the rat involves both morphological and biochemical changes.