Decreased sympathetic nerve activity in young hypertensive rats reared by normotensive mothers

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) 2023-11, Vol.333, p.122179-122179, Article 122179
• Main Authors: Babarikova, Katarina, Svitok, Pavel, Kopkan, Libor, Zeman, Michal, Molcan, Lubos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aorta; Blood pressure; Cross-fostering; Heart rate variability; Hypertension; Sympathetic nerve activity
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122179

Early postnatal development can be significantly compromised by changes in factors provided by the mother, leading to increased vulnerability to hypertension in her offspring. TGR(mRen-2)27 (TGR) mothers, characterised by an overactivated renin-angiotensin system, exhibit altered ion composition in their breast milk. Therefore, we aimed to analyse the impact of cross-fostering on cardiovascular parameters in hypertensive TGR and normotensive Hannover Sprague-Dawley (HanSD) offspring. We measured cardiovascular parameters in 5- to 10-week-old male offspring by telemetry. The expression of proteins related to vascular function was assessed by western blotting in the aortic samples obtained from 6- to 12-week-old male offspring. Plasma renin activity and plasma angiotensin II (Ang II) levels were evaluated by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The development of hypertension was in TGR accompanied by increased low-to-high frequency ratio (LF/HF; a marker of sympathovagal balance; 0.51 ± 0.16 in week 10). Furthermore, TGR exhibited increased aortic expression of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR; p