Echocardiographic assessment of fetal cardiac function in the uterine artery ligation rat model of IUGR.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) leads to cardiac dysfunction and adverse remodeling of the fetal heart, as well as a higher risk of postnatal cardiovascular diseases. The rat model of IUGR, via uterine artery ligation, is a popular model but its cardiac sequelae is not well investigated. Here, we performed an echocardiographic evaluation of its cardiac function to determine how well it can represent the disease in humans.

Methods

Unilateral uterine artery ligation was performed at embryonic day 17 (E17) and echocardiography was performed at E19 and E20.

Results

Growth-restricted fetuses were significantly smaller and lighter, and had an higher placenta-to-fetus weight ratio. Growth-restricted fetal hearts had reduced wall thickness-to-diameter ratio,

SUBMITTER: Dai Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8566221 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature