Changes in Endothelial Nitric Oxide Production in Systemic Vessels during Early Ontogenesis—A Key Mechanism for the Perinatal Adaptation of the Circulatory System

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) produced in the wall of blood vessels is necessary for the regulation of vascular tone to ensure an adequate blood supply of organs and tissues. In this review, we present evidence that the functioning of endothelial NO-synthase (eNOS) changes considerably during postnatal maturation. Alterations in NO-ergic vasoregulation in early ontogeny vary between vascular beds and correlate with the functional reorganization of a particular organ. Importantly, the anticontractile effect of NO can be an important mechanism responsible for the protectively low blood pressure in the immature circulatory system. The activity of eNOS is regulated by a number of hormones, including thyroid hormones which are key regulators of the perinatal developmental processes. Maternal thyroid hormone deficiency suppresses the anticontractile effect of NO at perinatal age. Such alterations disturb perinatal cardiovascular homeostasis and lead to delayed occurring cardiovascular pathologies in adulthood. The newly discovered role of thyroid hormones may have broad implications in cardiovascular medicine, considering the extremely high prevalence of maternal hypothyroidism in human society.

TASK‐1 channel blockade by AVE1231 increases vasocontractile responses and BP in 1‐ to 2‐week‐old but not adult rats

“…Adaptive changes in the blood supply of organs are a hallmark of their growth and maturation (Štulcová, 1977). The vascular system of the immature organism is characterized by a number of structural and functional features, including, but not limited to, low arterial pressure and greatly altered mechanisms of arterial tone regulation (D. K. Gaynullina, Schubert, & Tarasova, 2019; D. Gaynullina et al, 2013; Longo & Goyal, 2013; Mochalov et al, 2018; Sofronova et al, 2016). Interestingly, a few studies addressed the role of potassium channels in tone regulation of the systemic vasculature during the early postnatal period.…”

Birthweight determines intestinal microvasculature development and alters endothelial nitric oxide synthase density in young piglets

“…to be necessary for intestinal postnatal development of epithelial cells and immunoregulatory mechanisms in the gut (Janjatović et al, 2012). Moreover, changes in eNOS expression during development have been reported in other tissues in young animals (reviewed in Gaynullina, Schubert, and Tarasova (2019)). All these evidences, together with the altered eNOS-IR pattern in LBW, suggest that the lower expression of the enzyme in these piglets at birth plays a part in the aforementioned digestive and intestinal health impairment observed in LBW pigs.…”

Exosomes as Messengers between Mother and Fetus in Pregnancy

“…Shedding of vesicles and debris from trophoblast cells into the maternal circulation during PE contributed to vascular inflammation and endothelial injury, which are associated with the pathophysiology of PE [76]. Placental syncytiotrophoblast-derived extracellular vesicles contain endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), an enzyme that produces nitric oxide (NO) required for the regulation of the vascular tone and blood supply [77]. Based on diminished NO biological activity, EVs enable the prediction of pregnant disorders including PE [78].…”