Mouse Offspring Exposed to Preeclampsia/Eclampsia-like Symptoms Exhibit Changes in Regional Cerebral Perfusion at 2 months of age
Abstract Body: Children born to mothers with preeclampsia, a hypertensive pregnancy disorder, or eclampsia, new-onset seizures during pregnancy, are more likely to develop learning and memory deficits and are more susceptible to neurovascular diseases compared to those born from normal pregnancies. The contributing mechanisms are unknown. The objective of this study was to determine whether mice exposed to reduced uteroplacental perfusion (RUPP), to mimic preeclampsia with or without pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) injection (to induce seizures and model eclampsia), results in regional cerebral perfusion changes at 2 months of age. On gestational day (GD) 13.5, pregnant C57BL/6 mice underwent sham or RUPP surgery followed by injection or no treatment with PTZ (40 mg/kg) on GD 18.5. At 2 months of age, cerebral perfusion was measured using Laser Speckle Imaging, and averaged to obtain mean data per sex, per litter (n = 3-6 average datapoints per group). Perfusion data were normalized to the area of each region of interest. Data were analyzed using Two-Way ANOVA. Our findings indicate a reduction in cerebral perfusion in offspring exposed indirectly to RUPP specifically of the right parietal cortex (p = 0.013), superior sagittal sinus (p = 0.003), cerebellum (p = 0.003) and whole brain (p = 0.021). We also observed an overall significant reduction in perfusion, after indirect PTZ exposure, in the right parietal cortex (p = 0.002), transverse sinus (p = 0.003), and cerebellum (p < 0.001); and increase in prefrontal cortex perfusion (p = 0.001). Further observation showed an overall difference in hematocrit (p = 0.001), SPO2 (p < 0.001), and cerebellum water content (p = 0.007) after indirect PTZ exposure. There was no difference in perfusion of the left parietal cortex, body weight, organ weight (except brain, where RUPP exposure led to overall increased brain weight; p = 0.030). Together, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that exposure to preeclampsia/eclampsia conditions leads to changes in offspring cerebrovascular function, with a net reduction in perfusion. Reduced cerebral perfusion is generally associated with reduced cognitive function. Whether this occurs along with changes in capillary density, or is exacerbated with age are areas of active investigation.
Saffold, Karen
( University of Mississippi Medical Center
, Brandon
, Mississippi
, United States
)
Tall, Andrea
( University of Mississippi Medical Center
, Jackson
, Mississippi
, United States
)
Pryor, Tyranny
( University of Mississippi Medical Center
, Jackson
, Mississippi
, United States
)
Shao, Qingmei
( University of Mississippi Medical Center
, Jackson
, Mississippi
, United States
)
Jones- Muhammad, Maria
( University of Mississippi Medical C
, Jackson
, Mississippi
, United States
)
Stancil, Kennedi
( University of Mississippi Medical Center
, Jackson
, Mississippi
, United States
)
Warrington, Junie
( University of Mississippi Medical Center
, Jackson
, Mississippi
, United States
)
Author Disclosures:
Karen Saffold:DO NOT have relevant financial relationships
| Andrea Tall:No Answer
| Tyranny Pryor:No Answer
| Qingmei Shao:No Answer
| Maria Jones- Muhammad:No Answer
| Kennedi Stancil:No Answer
| Junie Warrington:DO NOT have relevant financial relationships