Long-term maternal cardiovascular function in a mouse model of sFlt-1-induced preeclampsia

1 Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas; and 2 Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Karolinska University Hospital-Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden Submitted August 21, 2009 ; accepted in final form November 3, 2009 Our aim was to evaluate the long-term effects of preeclampsia on vascular function in a mouse model induced by sFlt-1 overexpression. CD-1 mice at day 8 of gestation were injected via the tail vein with adenovirus carrying sFlt1 (AdsFlt1), adenovirus carrying the murine IgG2 Fc fragment as the adenovirus control (AdmFc), or saline. Vascular function in the mothers was investigated 6–8 mo after delivery by recording blood pressure (BP) by telemetry (AdsFlt1 n = 8, AdmFc n = 6, saline n = 4) and exploring carotid artery reactivity in a wire myograph (AdsFlt1 n = 6, AdmFc n = 8, saline n = 4). sFlt-1 blood levels at 6–8 mo postpartum had returned to low levels and were comparable between the three groups ( P = 0.808). There was no statistically significant difference in BP ( P = 0.067) or vascular reactivity between the three groups of postpartum mice (phenylephrine P = 0.079, thromboxane P = 0.979, serotonin P = 0.659, acetylcholine P = 0.795, sodium nitroprusside P = 0.728, isoproterenol P = 0.370). Our results indicate that in a mouse model overexpression of sFlt-1 does not lead to increased in BP and altered vascular function in the absence of the pregnancy and has no long-term effect on BP and vascular function in the postpartum mothers. Our findings favor the hypothesis that increased cardiovascular diseases in women with history of preeclampsia are likely the result of preexisting risk factors common to preeclampsia and cardiovascular diseases. vascular reactivity; postpartum; blood pressure; adenovirus Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: E. Bytautiene, Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Univ. of Texas Medical Branch, 301 Univ. Boulevard, Rt. 1062, Galveston, TX 77555-1062 (e-mail: egbytaut{at}utmb.edu ).