Spermidine Prevents Heart Injury in Neonatal Rats Exposed to Intrauterine Hypoxia by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Fragmentation.

ABSTRACT: Intrauterine hypoxia (IUH) is a common intrauterine dysplasia that can cause programming of the offspring cardiovascular system. In this study, we hypothesized that placental treatment with spermidine (SPD) can prevent heart injury in neonatal offspring exposed to IUH. Pregnant rats were exposed to 21% O₂ or 10% O₂ (hypoxia) for 7 days prior to term or were exposed to hypoxia and intraperitoneally administered SPD or SPD+difluromethylornithine (DFMO) on gestational days 15-21. Seven-day-old offspring were then sacrificed to assess several parameters. Our results demonstrated that IUH led to decreased myocardial ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and increased spermidine/spermine N¹-acetyltransferase (SSAT) expression in the offspring. IUH also resulted in decrea

SUBMITTER: Chai N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6537013 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature