Oxytocin antagonism prevents pregnancy-associated aortic dissection in a mouse model of Marfan syndrome.

ABSTRACT: Women with Marfan syndrome (MFS) are at high risk for pregnancy-associated aortic dissection. Pathogenic models that singularly invoke hemodynamic stress are difficult to reconcile with predominant postnatal occurrence of aortic tear, often occurring weeks to months after delivery. In consideration of events that peak at term, are sustained after delivery, and might synergize with previously defined signaling pathways implicated in aneurysm progression, we examined the hormone oxytocin, which initiates uterine contraction and milk letdown for the duration of lactation through phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). In a mouse model of MFS that shows highly penetrant postnatal aortic dissection, risk was strongly attenuated by preventing lactation or use of an oxytoc

SUBMITTER: Habashi JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8285055 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature