AJP - Heart AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 282: H665-H671, 2002; doi:10.1152/ajpheart.01183.2000
0363-6135/02 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (4)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Simaan, M.
Right arrow Articles by Brochu, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Simaan, M.
Right arrow Articles by Brochu, M.
Vol. 282, Issue 2, H665-H671, February 2002

Calcium channels contribute to the decrease in blood pressure of pregnant rats

May Simaan, Chanterelle Cadorette, Matthieu Poterek, Jean St-Louis, and Michèle Brochu

Research Centre, Hôpital Sainte-Justine, and Departments of Obstetrics-Gynecology and Pharmacology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3T 1C5

Pregnancy is associated with hemodynamic changes such as reduced vascular resistance and blood pressure. We reported that, during late pregnancy, the activity of voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCC) is altered in the adrenal cortex and vascular smooth muscle. These observations suggested that the late pregnancy-induced decrease in blood pressure is linked to diminished VDCC function. We attempted to prevent pregnancy-induced reduced blood pressure with a calcium channel activator (CGP 28392) in pregnant rats and to mimic it by administration of a calcium channel blocker (nifedipine) to nonpregnant rats. Treatment was given from the 15th day of gestation for 7 days. The systolic blood pressure of CGP 28392-treated pregnant rats rose transiently for 2 days and then declined toward values of nontreated pregnant controls, although remaining higher. However, nonpregnant rats maintained their high arterial pressure throughout CGP 28392 treatment. Nifedipine lowered the blood pressure in nonpregnant rats to values of nontreated term-pregnant controls. Both agents did not affect body weight, water or food intake, plasma renin activity, and plasma aldosterone or corticosterone levels. Nifedipine and CGP 28392 treatment of nonpregnant and pregnant animals, respectively, did not modify the response of aortic rings to KCl. These results show that VDCC activation caused hypertension, which modified the extent of the decrease in blood pressure at the end of pregnancy.

vascular vessels; nifedipine; CGP 28392


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Cardiovasc ResHome page
V. Bassien-Capsa, J.-C. Fouron, B. Comte, and A. Chorvatova
Structural, functional and metabolic remodeling of rat left ventricular myocytes in normal and in sodium-supplemented pregnancy
Cardiovasc Res, February 1, 2006; 69(2): 423 - 431.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
K. Auger, A. Beausejour, M. Brochu, and J. St-Louis
Increased Na+ intake during gestation in rats is associated with enhanced vascular reactivity and alterations of K+ and Ca2+ function
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, October 1, 2004; 287(4): H1848 - H1856.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
A. Beausejour, K. Auger, J. St-Louis, and M. Brochu
High-sodium intake prevents pregnancy-induced decrease of blood pressure in the rat
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, June 5, 2003; 285(1): H375 - H383.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online