Causes and Mechanisms of Intrauterine Hypoxia and Its Impact on the Fetal Cardiovascular System: A Review

Abstract

Until today the role of oxygen in the development of the fetus remains controversially discussed. It is still believed that lack of oxygen in utero might be responsible for some of the known congenital cardiovascular malformations. Over the last two decades detailed research has given us new insights and a better understanding of embryogenesis and fetal growth. But most importantly it has repeatedly demonstrated that oxygen only plays a minor role in the early intrauterine development. After organogenesis has taken place hypoxia becomes more important during the second and third trimester of pregnancy when fetal growth occurs. This review will briefly adress causes and mechanisms leading to intrauterine hypoxia and their impact on the fetal cardiovascular system.

Are Sildenafil Derivatives Useful Even in Unborn Males?

“…Those authors additionally argued in favor of an important role for intrauterine hypoxiainduced alteration of gene expression in the increased incidence of risk factors in premature cardiovascular diseases at later life stages. 2 In the present study, Bourque et al 3 provide experimental evidence toward a role for the precursor of endothelin-1 (ET-1), big-ET-1, as a new stressor in aged male rats that experienced prenatal hypoxia-induced IUGR. Interestingly, the authors demonstrated a vascular hyper-responsiveness to big-ET-1 and a 2-fold reduction in nitric oxide (NO)-dependent physiological antagonism of the precursor's contractile properties in vessels derived from aged male but not female rats.…”

“…An elegant survey by Hutter et al 2 subsequently highlighted the major causes of intrauterine hypoxia often associated with IUGR. Those authors additionally argued in favor of an important role for intrauterine hypoxiainduced alteration of gene expression in the increased incidence of risk factors in premature cardiovascular diseases at later life stages.…”

“…NO, in contrast, in conjunction with other vasodilator factors is responsible for the maintenance of optimal uterine blood flow. 2 Prenatal and perinatal administration of NO donors may, therefore, constitute a more viable alternative if the results shown in the study by Bourque et al 3 in the rat model can be ultimately translated to the human condition. This particular paradigm may of course Figure. Putative effects of sildenafil in male intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) fetal resistance arteries.…”

A study of the consequences of early gestational ethanol and/or nicotine exposure in the mouse

“…Furthermore, the very act of smoking results in exposure to carbon monoxide and tissue hypoxia (Sagone et al, 1973;Jensen, 1991) -a condition which in and of itself, is known to be of detriment to the developing fetus (reviewed in Golan andHuleihel, 2006 andHutter et al, 2010). Given the complex composition of tobacco smoke, understanding the mechanisms by which tobacco exposure influences fetal health is challenging.…”

The effect of sulodexide on placental mitochondria function in rats with experimental preeclampsia

“…У мутантных мышей с повреждением ферментов гликолиза, а, следовательно, снижением синтеза АТФ, наблюдается невынашивание беременности. Чувствительность к гипоксии и гипоэнергетическим состояниям повышается с увеличением срока гестации [22]. Это позволяет предположить, что нормальное функционирование плаценты непосредственно зависит от обеспеченности клеток энергией, а значит от дыхания и окислительного фосфорилирования.…”