scholarly journals Male disadvantage? Fetal sex and cardiovascular responses to asphyxia in preterm fetal sheep

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (3) ◽  
pp. R1280-R1286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Bennet ◽  
Lindsea C. Booth ◽  
Noha Ahmed-Nasef ◽  
Justin M. Dean ◽  
Joanne Davidson ◽  
...  

Clinically and experimentally male fetuses are at significantly greater risk of dying or suffering injury at birth, particularly after premature delivery. We undertook a retrospective cohort analysis of 60 female and 65 male singleton preterm fetal sheep (103–104 days, 0.7 gestation) with mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate, and carotid and femoral blood flow recordings during 25 min of umbilical cord occlusion in utero. Occlusions were stopped early if fetal MAP fell below 8 mmHg or if there was asystole for >20 s. Fetuses that were able to complete the full 25-min period of occlusion showed no differences between sexes for any cardiovascular responses. Similar numbers of occlusions were stopped early in males (mean: 21 min, n = 16) and females (mean: 23 min, n = 16); however, they showed different responses. Short-occlusion males ( n = 16) showed a slower initial fall in femoral vascular conductance, followed by greater bradycardia, hypotension, and associated organ hypoperfusion compared with full-occlusion fetuses. In contrast, short-occlusion females ( n = 16) showed a significantly more rapid early increase in femoral vascular conductance than the full-occlusion fetuses, followed by worsening of bradycardia and hypotension that was intermediate to the full-occlusion fetuses and short-occlusion males. Among all fetuses, MAP at 15 min of occlusion, corresponding with the time of the maximal rate of fall, was correlated with postmortem weight in males ( R2 = 0.07) but not females. In conclusion, male and female fetuses showed remarkably similar chemoreflex and hemodynamic responses to severe asphyxia, but some males did show impaired hemodynamic adaptation within the normal weight range.

1987 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 1463-1468 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Koos ◽  
H. Sameshima ◽  
G. G. Power

Graded anemia was produced for 2 h in 10 unanesthetized fetal sheep by infusing plasma in exchange for fetal blood. This reduced the mean fetal hematocrits during the 1st h of anemia to 19.7 +/- 0.5% [control (C) = 28.2 +/- 1.1%] for mild anemia, 17.4 +/- 0.9% (C = 30.0 +/- 1.1%) for moderate anemia, and 15.1 +/- 1.0% (C = 29.2 +/- 1.3%) for severe anemia. The respective mean arterial O2 contents (CaO2) were 4.46 +/- 0.20, 3.89 +/- 0.24, and 3.22 +/- 0.19 ml/dl. Mean arterial PO2 was reduced significantly (by 2 Torr) only during moderate anemia, and mean arterial pH was decreased only during severe anemia. No significant changes occurred in arterial PCO2. Fetal tachycardia occurred during anemia. Mean arterial pressure was reduced by 2–3 mmHg during mild anemia; however, no significant blood pressure changes were observed for moderate or severe anemia. The incidence of rapid-eye movements and breathing activity was not affected by mild anemia, but the incidence of both was reduced significantly during moderate and severe anemia. It is concluded that 1) a reduction in CaO2 of greater than 2.48 +/- 0.22 ml/dl by hemodilution inhibits rapid-eye movements and breathing activity, and 2) the PO2 signal for inhibition does not come from arterial blood but from lower PO2 in tissue.


2003 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 1159-1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua R. Rodman ◽  
Kathleen S. Henderson ◽  
Curtis A. Smith ◽  
Jerome A. Dempsey

In awake dogs, lactic acid was injected into the phrenic and deep circumflex iliac arteries to elicit the diaphragm and abdominal muscle metaboreflexes, respectively. At rest, injections into the phrenic or deep circumflex iliac arteries significantly increased mean arterial blood pressure 21 ± 7% and reduced cardiac output 6 ± 2% and blood flow to the hindlimbs 20 ± 9%. Simultaneously, total systemic, hindlimb, and abdominal expiratory muscle vascular conductances were reduced. These cardiovascular responses were not accompanied by significant changes in the amplitude or timing of the diaphragm electromyogram. During treadmill exercise that increased cardiac output, hindlimb blood flow, and vascular conductance 159 ± 106, 276 ± 309, and 299 ± 90% above resting values, lactic acid injected into the phrenic or deep circumflex iliac arteries also elicited pressor responses and reduced hindlimb blood flow and vascular conductance. Adrenergic receptor blockade at rest eliminated the cardiovascular effects of the respiratory muscle metaboreflex. We conclude that the cardiovascular effects of respiratory muscle metaboreflex activation are similar to those previously reported for limb muscles. When activated via metabolite production, the respiratory muscle metaboreflex may contribute to the increased sympathetic tone and redistribution of blood flow during exercise.


2007 ◽  
Vol 103 (5) ◽  
pp. 1583-1591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth A. Parker ◽  
Sandra L. Smithmyer ◽  
Justin A. Pelberg ◽  
Aaron D. Mishkin ◽  
Michael D. Herr ◽  
...  

Limb vascular conductance responses to pharmacological and nonexercise vasodilator stimuli are generally augmented in women compared with men. In the present investigation, we tested the hypothesis that exercise-induced vasodilator responses are also greater in women than men. Sixteen women and 15 men (20–30 yr) with similar fitness and activity levels performed graded quadriceps exercise (supine, single-leg knee extensions, 40 contractions/min) to maximal exertion. Active limb hemodynamics (left common femoral artery diameter and volumetric blood flow), heart rate (ECG), and beat-to-beat mean arterial blood pressure (MAP; radial artery tonometry) were measured during each 3-min workload (4.8 and 8 W/stage for women and men, respectively). The hyperemic response to exercise (slope of femoral blood flow vs. workload) was greater ( P < 0.01) in women as was femoral blood flow at workloads >15 W. The leg vasodilatory response to exercise (slope of calculated femoral vascular conductance vs. absolute workload) was also greater in women than in men ( P < 0.01) because of the sex difference in hyperemia and the women's lower MAP (∼10–15 mmHg) at all workloads ( P < 0.05). The femoral artery dilated to a significantly greater extent in the women (∼0.5 mm) than in the men (∼0.1 mm) across all submaximal workloads. At maximal exertion, femoral vascular conductance was lower in the men (men, 18.0 ± 0.6 ml·min−1·mmHg−1; women, 22.6 ± 1.4 ml·min−1·mmHg−1; P < 0.01). Collectively, these findings suggest that the vasodilatory response to dynamic leg exercise is greater in young women vs. men.


1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (6) ◽  
pp. R1912-R1917 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. Moritz ◽  
K. Tangalakis ◽  
E. M. Wintour

Long-term infusion of angiotensin I (ANG I) into the ovine fetus has been shown to cause excess accumulation of fetal fluid in the allantoic compartment. It was hypothesized that this resulted from sustained increases in fetal urine production, and the hormonal basis was examined. ANG I (6.7 micrograms/h, n = 6) or isotonic saline (n = 6) was infused for 3 days into chronically cannulated ovine fetuses (112-122 days of gestation). ANG I caused an immediate and progressive increase in mean arterial blood pressure (from 42 +/- 2 to 57 +/- 4 mmHg), increased urine flow rate (from 15 +/- 3 to 48 +/- 8 ml/h), and increased glomerular filtration rate (from 97 +/- 15 to 146 +/- 24 ml/h), without significant changes in fetal plasma concentrations of aldosterone, atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), adrenocorticotropin, or cortisol. There were substantial increases in sodium and chloride excretion, due to both increased fetal urine concentrations and fetal urine flow, without significant changes in urine osmolality (from 134 +/- 9 to 147 +/- 12 mosmol/kg water). There were no significant changes in any parameter in the saline-infused fetuses. Neither amniotic or allantoic fluid volume was significantly changed by ANG I infusion, but allantoic fluid Cl- concentration increased significantly. The conclusions are that ANG I caused a diuresis and natriuresis in the fetal sheep independent of changes in cortisol or ANF.


1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (1) ◽  
pp. R160-R167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey L. Segar ◽  
Eugenie R. Lumbers ◽  
Anne Monique Nuyt ◽  
Oliva J. Smith ◽  
Jean E. Robillard

Renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) increases rapidly after delivery of term fetal sheep and parallels the rise in heart rate (HR) and arterial pressure. To examine the RSNA response at birth in immature lambs, experiments were performed in chronically instrumented preterm fetal sheep (118- to 125-day gestation, term 145 days) before and after delivery by cesarean section. HR remained unchanged from fetal values at 1 and 4 h after birth, whereas mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) decreased significantly ( P < 0.05) by 4 h after delivery. RSNA significantly decreased after premature birth in all animals studied ( n = 6), achieving only 39 ± 17% of fetal RSNA ( P< 0.05; all results are mean ± SE). Because cardiovascular function after premature birth is improved by the use of antenatal corticosteroids, we also tested the hypothesis that corticosteroid administration would evoke a more pronounced sympathetic response in prematurely delivered lambs ( n = 7, 118- to 125-day gestation). After maternal administration of dexamethasone (5 mg im, 48 and 24 h before delivery), RSNA increased after birth in six of seven fetuses to 166 ± 32% of the fetal RSNA value. Dexamethasone treatment also decreased the sensitivity of baroreflex-mediated changes in HR in response to increases in MABP. Because the sympathetic response at birth is depressed in preterm compared with term lambs, we performed an additional study ( n = 8) to determine if immature sheep are capable of mounting a sympathetic response to cold. In utero cooling produced rapid and sustained increases in MABP (20 ± 4%), HR (26 ± 6%), and RSNA (282 ± 72%) (all P < 0.05), consistent with a generalized sympathoexcitation. These results suggest that sympathoexcitation is absent after premature delivery despite the presence of functional descending autonomic pathways. Furthermore, exogenous corticosteroids appear to have a maturational effect on the sympathetic response at birth, which may be one mechanism by which maternal steroid administration improves postnatal cardiovascular homeostasis.


Author(s):  
Byung-Sun Lee ◽  
Kyung-Ae Kim ◽  
Jong-Kyung Kim ◽  
Hosung Nho

Studies found that cardiovascular responses to exercise are enhanced in individuals with obesity and are associated with a greater cardiac output (CO) response compared to normal weight controls. However, the mechanisms underlying these altered responses during dynamic exercise are not clear. We investigated whether the cardiovascular responses mediated by the muscle metaboreflex (MMR) activation are augmented in obese men during both static and dynamic exercise. Twenty males (10 obese (OG) and 10 non-obese (NOG)) were studied. Changes in CO, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and total vascular conductance (TVC) were compared between the two groups during dynamic handgrip exercise (DHE), post-exercise muscular ischemia (PEMI), and dynamic exercise corresponding to 40%, 60% and 80% workloads. Subjects completed 2 min of DHE at 30% of MVC, followed by 2 min of PEMI. MAP, CO, and TVC responses to DHE and dynamic exercise were significantly higher in OG, whereas there were no differences during PEMI. Increases in CO and MAP during mild to heavy dynamic exercise were seen in both groups, but the changes in these variables were greater in the OG. There were no significant differences in TVC between the two groups. Compared to NOG, the augmented blood pressure response to DHE and dynamic exercise in OG was associated with a greater increase in CO. Thus, the augmented CO and MAP responses were not associated with the activation of the MMR. Consequently, additional factors specific to obesity, such as the mechanoreflex, may have been involved.


2007 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 1311-1317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guido Wassink ◽  
Laura Bennet ◽  
Lindsea C. Booth ◽  
Ellen C. Jensen ◽  
Bert Wibbens ◽  
...  

There is evidence that preterm fetuses have blunted chemoreflex-mediated responses to hypoxia. However, the preterm fetus has much lower aerobic requirements than at term, and so moderate hypoxia may not be sufficient to elicit maximal chemoreflex responses; there are only limited quantitative data on the ontogeny of chemoreflex and hemodynamic responses to severe asphyxia. Chronically instrumented fetal sheep at 0.6 ( n = 12), 0.7 ( n = 12), and 0.85 ( n = 8) of gestational age (GA; term = 147 days) were exposed to 30, 25, or 15 min of complete umbilical cord occlusion, respectively. At all ages, occlusion was associated with early onset of bradycardia, profoundly reduced femoral blood flow and conductance, and hypertension. The 0.6-GA fetuses showed a significantly slower and lesser fall in femoral blood flow and conductance compared with the 0.85-GA group, with a correspondingly reduced relative rise in mean arterial blood pressure. As occlusion continued, the initial adaptation was followed by loss of peripheral vasoconstriction and progressive development of hypotension in all groups. The 0.85-GA fetuses showed significantly more sustained reduction in femoral conductance but also more rapid onset of hypotension than either of the younger groups. Electroencephalographic (EEG) activity was suppressed during occlusion in all groups, but the degree of suppression was less at 0.6 GA than at term. In conclusion, the near-midgestation fetus shows attenuated initial (chemoreflex) peripheral vasomotor responses to severe asphyxia compared with more mature fetuses but more sustained hemodynamic adaptation and reduced suppression of EEG activity during continued occlusion of the umbilical cord.


2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (10) ◽  
pp. R799-R803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsea C. Booth ◽  
Paul P. Drury ◽  
Cameron Muir ◽  
Ellen C. Jensen ◽  
Alistair J. Gunn ◽  
...  

There is increasing evidence that exposure to infection can sensitize the fetus to subsequent hypoxic injury. However, it is unclear whether this involves compromise of the fetal cardiovascular adaptation to acute asphyxia. Chronically instrumented 103-day-old (0.7 gestational age, term is 147 days) fetal sheep in utero were randomized to receive either gram-negative lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a continuous low-dose infusion for 120 h plus boluses of 1 μg LPS at 48, 72, and 96 h with asphyxia at 102 h (i.e., 6 h after the final LPS bolus) induced by umbilical cord occlusion for 15 min (LPS treated, n = 8), or the same volume of saline plus occlusion (saline treated, n = 7). Fetuses were killed 5 days after occlusion. LPS was associated with a more rapid fall in fetal heart rate at the onset of occlusion ( P < 0.05) and with minimally lower values during occlusion ( P < 0.05). The LPS-treated fetuses had lower fetal mean arterial blood pressure (BP) and greater carotid artery blood flow (CaBF) before occlusion ( P < 0.05) but showed an increase in BP and fall in CaBF to similar values as saline controls during occlusion. There were no differences between the groups in femoral blood flow before or during occlusion. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, acute on chronic exposure to LPS was associated with more rapid cardiovascular adaptation to umbilical cord occlusion.


1989 ◽  
Vol 256 (5) ◽  
pp. R1063-R1068
Author(s):  
M. Espinoza ◽  
R. Riquelme ◽  
A. M. Germain ◽  
J. Tevah ◽  
J. T. Parer ◽  
...  

Intravenous administration of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone to asphyxiated fetal sheep increases the arterial blood pressure. We examined the hypothesis that endogenous opioids modify the cardiac output distribution during asphyxia due to changes in the vascular resistance of some fetal organs. Thirteen fetal sheep (0.8-0.9 of gestation) were chronically catheterized. Fetal asphyxia was induced by reducing the uterine blood flow with an inflatable occluder around the common internal iliac artery to approximately 50% of control for 40 min. Naloxone solution or the solvent alone was added for the last 20 min. Asphyxia caused hypertension, and the fetal arterial blood pressure further increased when asphyxiated fetuses received naloxone. Heart, brain, and adrenal blood flows increased due to the increase in blood pressure, with no changes in their vascular resistances. In contrast, kidney and carcass blood flows decreased, and their vascular resistances increased. We conclude that endogenous opioids inhibit the vasoconstriction of these vascular beds during fetal asphyxia.


2016 ◽  
Vol 116 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mu Huang ◽  
Dustin R. Allen ◽  
David M. Keller ◽  
Paul J. Fadel ◽  
Elliot M. Frohman ◽  
...  

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a progressive neurological disease, can lead to impairments in the autonomic control of cardiovascular function. We tested the hypothesis that individuals with relapsing-remitting MS ( n = 10; 7 females, 3 males; 13 ± 4 yr from diagnosis) exhibit impaired carotid baroreflex control of blood pressure and heart rate compared with sex, age, and body weight-matched healthy individuals (CON: n = 10; 7 females, 3 males). At rest, 5-s trials of neck pressure (NP; +40 Torr) and neck suction (NS; −60 Torr) were applied to simulate carotid hypotension and hypertension, respectively, while mean arterial pressure (MAP; finger photoplethysmography), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO; Modelflow), and total vascular conductance (TVC) were continuously measured. In response to NP, there was a blunted increase in peak MAP responses (MS: 5 ± 2 mmHg) in individuals with MS compared with healthy controls (CON: 9 ± 3 mmHg; P = 0.005), whereas peak HR responses were not different between groups. At the peak MAP response to NP, individuals with MS demonstrated an attenuated decrease in TVC (MS, −10 ± 4% baseline vs. CON, −15 ± 4% baseline, P = 0.012), whereas changes in CO were similar between groups. Following NS, all cardiovascular responses (i.e., nadir MAP and HR and percent changes in CO and TVC) were not different between MS and CON groups. These data suggest that individuals with MS have impaired carotid baroreflex control of blood pressure via a blunted vascular conductance response resulting in a diminished ability to increase MAP in response to a hypotensive challenge.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document