Grant: Operating Grant

Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of death and a major source of disability. Poor fetal growth in the uterus (intrauterine growth restriction) increases the risk for developing cardiovascular disease in adult life. Fetal hypoxia (low oxygen) is one of the most common consequences of complicated pregnancies worldwide. Therefore, understanding the role of low oxygen exposure in the fetus with long-term consequences on cardiovascular function is particularly important but yet understudied. The focus of this renewal application is to further determine the effects of fetal hypoxia on cardiovascular dysfunction later in life. We have also noted that offspring born from a low oxygen environment do not have the reserve to accommodate a secondary stress such as consuming a high fat diet. Exercise is used extensively as an intervention strategy to improve cardiovascular health however, whether this intervention strategy is beneficial (or potentially detrimental as a secondary stressor) in offspring exposed to prenatal hypoxia is not known. We will expose pregnant rats to low oxygen in their last week of pregnancy to induce intrauterine growth restricted offspring. We will determine the effect of early intervention with exercise or a natural product, resveratrol, on cardiovascular health. Our proposed studies will provide a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of prenatal hypoxia exposure on adult cardiovascular complications. This will foster development of early intervention strategies to prevent the tremendous costs, economic and social, that are consequent to intrauterine growth restriction.