Gestational Hypoxia Inhibits Pregnancy-Induced Upregulation of Ca²⁺ Sparks and Spontaneous Transient Outward Currents in Uterine Arteries Via Heightened Endoplasmic Reticulum/Oxidative Stress.

ABSTRACT: Hypoxia during pregnancy profoundly affects uterine vascular adaptation and increases the risk of pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia and fetal intrauterine growth restriction. We recently demonstrated that increases in Ca²⁺ sparks and spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) played an essential role in pregnancy-induced uterine vascular adaptation. In the present study, we hypothesize that gestational hypoxia suppresses Ca²⁺ sparks/STOCs coupling leading to increased uterine vascular tone via enhanced endoplasmic reticulum (ER)/oxidative stress. Uterine arteries were obtained from nonpregnant and near-term pregnant sheep residing in low altitude or acclimatizing to high-altitude (3801 m) hypoxia for ≈110 days. High-altitude hypoxia suppressed pregna

SUBMITTER: Hu XQ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7429261 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature