Effects of pre-natal and early post-natal undernutrition on adult internal thoracic artery function

Khan, Omar A., Torrens, Christopher, Noakes, David E., Poston, Lucilla, Hanson, Mark A., Green, Lucy R. and Ohri, Sunil K. (2005) Effects of pre-natal and early post-natal undernutrition on adult internal thoracic artery function. European Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, 28 (6), 811-815. (doi:10.1016/j.ejcts.2005.08.021).

Abstract

Objective: Previous studies in humans and animals have suggested that undernutrition in utero and in early post-natal life may lead to altered vascular function in a number of peripheral arteries. We investigated the effect of pre- and post-natal nutrient restriction on the vascular reactivity of the left internal thoracic artery using a sheep model.
Methods: Welsh mountain ewes were mated and assigned to three dietary groups: (1) 100% of total nutritional requirements (control, n = 6); (2) 50% of total nutritional requirements during the first 31 days of gestation (n = 6); and (3) 50% nutritional restriction during the first 31 days of gestation, followed by a restriction in the diet of their offspring 12–25 weeks post-natally, designed to produce a 15% reduction in growth trajectory (n = 7). The male offspring were sacrificed at 130 weeks; the left internal thoracic artery was mounted onto a wire myograph and the reactivity of the vessel to various agonists measured.
Results: The offspring of animals who underwent an early gestation nutrient restriction had a significantly increased basal tone (0.41 ± 0.25 vs 6.34 ± 1.35, p = 0.015) and sensitivity to phenylephrine (log EC50: ?6.23 ± 0.04 M vs ?5.74 ± 0.17 M, p = 0.036) as compared with control animals. However, this phenomenon was not seen in animals that underwent both pre- and post-natal nutrient restriction.
Conclusions: Pre-natal undernutrition increases the basal tone and sensitivity of the left internal thoracic artery to phenylephrine. This effect is significantly attenuated by continued undernutrition in early post-natal life. These experiments suggest that in utero and early post-natal undernutrition may be important determinants of graft function in later life.

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Contributors

Author: Mark A. Hanson

Author: Lucy R. Green

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