Pregnancy restores altered sympathetic vasomotor modulation and parasympathetic cardiac modulation in hypertensive rats.

Hypertension is associated to impaired baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). In spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), pregnancy reduces blood pressure, and this effect has been associated to increase nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Increased NO bioavailability has been linked to improve BRS in hypertensive animals. Therefore, we hypothesize that pregnancy improves the BRS in SHR. We performed experiments to evaluate the vasomotor and cardiac autonomic modulation, also to evaluate the BRS at baseline conditions (spontaneous) and after phenylephrine (PE) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) administrations in non-pregnant (NP) and pregnant (P) Wistar rats and SHR. Beat-to-beat time series with systolic arterial pressure values were generated and processed by Fast Fourier Transform (spectral analysis). Next, spectra were integrated into low-frequency (LF) band and had their power taken as an index of sympathetic modulation on arterial pressure. Reduced mean arterial pressure was observed in P-groups when compared to NP matched rats, although we did not observe alterations in heart rate (HR). In SHR-NP, spectral analysis revealed altered cardiovascular autonomic modulation when compared to the other groups. However, in SHR-P the autonomic parameters were similar to those observed in Wistar-NP, suggesting that pregnancy changed autonomic modulation. BRS assessed by means of the sequence method was found similar in P-groups. Pregnancy reduced the BRS during hypotension in Wistar. BRS assessed with PE and SNP administration was found lower in SHR-NP as compared to Wistar-NP, and it was not altered by pregnancy. In conclusion, pregnancy did not improve the BRS in SHR, but normalized altered sympathetic vasomotor modulation in SHR.

Estudo do barorreflexo no final da prenhez de ratas espontaneamente hipertensas (SHR) / Study of baroreflex at the end of pregnancy in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)

A hipertensão arterial é frequentemente associada à prejudicada sensibilidade do barorreflexo (SBR). Em ratas espontaneamente hipertensas (SHR), a gravidez reduz a pressão sanguínea, e este efeito tem sido associado ao aumento da biodisponibilidade de óxido nítrico (NO). O aumento da biodisponibilidade do NO tem sido associado a uma SBR restaurada em animais hipertensos. Por isso, testamos a hipótese de que a gravidez melhora a SBR em SHR. Foram realizados experimentos em ratas Wistar e SHR não prenhas (NP) e prenhas (P), sendo dez virgens e dez prenhas em cada grupo, para avaliar a modulação autonômica cardíaca e vasomotora, a SBR em condições basais (espontânea) e após a administração de doses de fenilefrina (FE) e nitroprussiato de sódio (NPS). Séries temporais com valores de intervalo de pulso (IP) e de pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) foram geradas e tiveram espectros calculados pela Transformada Rápida de Fourrier. Em seguida, os espectros foram integrados em bandas de baixa (LF) e alta freqüência (HF), e os poderes das bandas foram tomadas como índices de modulação autonômica cardiovascular. Observamos reduzida pressão arterial média em ratas Wistar prenhas (W-P) e SHR prenhas (SHR-P) quando comparado com ratas NP, no entanto, a frequência cardíaca basal não foi alterada. Em SHR-NP, a análise espectral revelou modulação autonômica cardiovascular alterada quando comparado com os outros grupos (banda de alta LF do espectro PAS e banda de alta HF dos espectros IP). No entanto, em SHR-P os parâmetros autonômicos foram encontrados semelhantes aos observados em ratas WistarNP, sugerindo que a prenhez restaurou as alterações na modulação autonômica. A SBR espontânea não foi alterada em SHR-P quando comparado com W-P. A prenhez reduziu a SBR durante situações de hipotensão no grupo Wistar. A SBR avaliada após a administração de FE ou NPS foi menor em SHR-NP em comparação com Wistar-NP, e não se alterou pela prenhez. Em conclusão, a gravidez não melhorou as SBR em SHR, mas normalizou a alterada modulação vasomotora simpática e a modulação parassimpática cardíaca observados em SHR-NP(AU)

Hypertension is frequently associated to impaired baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). In spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), pregnancy reduces blood pressure, and this effect has been associated to increased nitric oxide (NO) availability. Increased NO bioavailability has been linked to improved BRS in hypertensive animals. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that pregnancy improves the BRS in SHR. Experiments were performed to evaluate the vasomotor and cardiac autonomic modulation, and the BRS at baseline conditions (spontaneous) and after phenylephrine (PE) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) administrations in female non-pregnant (NP) and pregnant (P) Wistar rats and SHR. Time series with pulse interval (PI) and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) values were generated and had spectra calculated by Fast Fourier Transform. Next, spectra were integrated into low (LF) and high frequency (HF) bands, and the powers of the bands were taken as indexes of cardiovascular autonomic modulation. Reduced mean arterial pressure was observed in Wistar pregnant (W-P) and SHR pregnant (SHR-P) when compared to NP matched rats, however the heart rate was not altered. In SHR-NP, spectral analysis revealed altered cardiovascular autonomic modulation when compared to the other groups (high LF band of the SAP spectra and high HF band of the PI spectra). However, in SHR-P the autonomic parameters were found similar to those observed in Wistar-NP, suggesting that pregnancy prevented changes in autonomic modulation. Spontaneous BRS was not altered in SHR-P when compared to W-P. Pregnancy reduced the BRS during hypotension in Wistar group. BRS assessed with PE and SNP administration was found lower in SHRNP as compared to Wistar-NP, and it was not altered by pregnancy. In conclusion, pregnancy did not improve the BRS in SHR but normalized altered sympathetic vasomotor modulation and parasympathetic cardiac modulation in SHR(AU)

Efeitos da corrida em esteira em músculos sóleos de ratos encurtados por imobilização / Effects of running on treadmill in soleus muscles of rats shortened by immobilization

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar as adaptações de peso e comprimento do músculo sóleo de ratos Wistar machos, além da estimativa do total de sarcômeros em série e comprimento médio dos sarcômeros, quando submetidos a um processo de remobilização em esteira. Foram utilizados 18 ratos (Wistar), divididos em três grupos: GC - músculo sóleo esquerdo (MSE) imobilizado e remobilizado solto; G10 - MSE imobilizado e remobilizado em velocidade de 10m/min; e G12 (n = 6) - MSE imobilizado e remobilizado em velocidade de 12m/min. Os resultados mostraram as seguintes variações, peso muscular: GC -22,35 por cento (p = 0,0089), G10 -12,52 por cento (p = 0,0623), G12 -12,07 por cento, (p = 0,0004); comprimento muscular: GC -5,47 por cento (p = 0,0120), G10 -3,31 por cento (p = 0,2868), G12 0,41 por cento (p = 0,8987); estimativa de sarcômeros em série: GC -15,42 por cento (p = 0,0047), G10 -10,87 por cento (p = 0,0193), G12 -4,97 (p = 0,2409); comprimento de sarcômeros GC 11,16 por cento (p = 0,0142), G10 9,31 por cento (p = 0,1270), G12 5,58 por cento (p = 0,1327). Conclui-se que G12 obteve maior eficácia após o período de imobilização, pois apresentou maior semelhança com o membro não imobilizado.

The aim of this work was to compare weight and length adaptations of the soleus muscle of male Wistar rats as well as estimation of the total number of serial sarcomere and mean sarcomere length, when they are submitted to remobilization on treadmill. 18 Wistar male rats were used and divided in the three following groups: CG - left soleus (LS) muscle immobilized and remobilized free in the cage; G10 - LS muscle immobilized and remobilized in speed of 10 m/min on treadmill; and G12 - LS muscle immobilized and remobilized in speed of 12 m/min. The right muscles (RS) of each animal were used for comparison. The results showed the following variations, muscular weigh: CG -22.35 percent (p = 0.0089), G10 -12.52 percent (p = 0.0623), G12 -12.07 percent, (p = 0.0004); muscle length: CG -5.47 percent (p = 0.0120), G10 -3.31 percent (p = 0.2868), G12 0.41 percent (p = 0.8987); estimation of number of serial sarcomere: CG -15.42 percent (p = 0.0047), G10 -10.87 percent (p = 0.0193), G12 -4.97 (p = 0.2409); sarcomere length: CG 11.16 percent, (p = 0.0142), G10 9.31 percent (p = 0.1270), G12 5.58 percent (p = 0.1327). It was concluded that G12 presented the best effectiveness after immobilization period since it presented greater similarity with the non-immobilized soleus.