Maternal cadmium exposure in the mouse leads to increased heart weight at birth and programs susceptibility to hypertension in adulthood.

ABSTRACT: Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal ubiquitous in the environment. Maternal exposure to Cd is associated with fetal growth restriction, trace element deficiencies, and congenital malformations. Cd exposure during adulthood is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, the effects of maternal Cd exposure on offspring cardiovascular development and disease are not well-understood. Utilizing a mouse model of maternal Cd exposure, we show that offspring born to Cd-exposed mothers have increased heart weights at birth and susceptibility to hypertension during adulthood. Despite inefficient maternal-fetal transfer of Cd, maternal Cd alters fetal levels of essential trace elements including a deficiency in iron, which is required for cardiovascular system development, oxygen homeostas

SUBMITTER: Hudson KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6753073 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature