Chronic low alcohol intake during pregnancy programs sex-specific cardiovascular deficits in rats.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Exposure to an adverse environment in early life can have lifelong consequences for risk of cardiovascular disease. Maternal alcohol (ethanol) intake is common and associated with a variety of harmful effects to the fetus. However, examining the effects on the cardiovascular system in adult offspring has largely been neglected. The objectives of this study were to investigate the influence of chronic, low ethanol consumption throughout pregnancy on blood pressure, vascular reactivity and wall stiffness, all key determinants of cardiovascular health, in both male and female rat offspring.

Methods

Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed an ad libitum liquid diet ± 6% vol/vol ethanol throughout pregnancy. Male and female offspring were studied at 12 months of age. Arteri

SUBMITTER: Walton SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6477739 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature