The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways mediate β cell growth, proliferation, survival and death. We investigated whether protein restriction during pregnancy alters islet morphometry or the expression and phosphorylation of several proteins involved in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. As controls, adult pre...

Kriston, Tünde, Rocco C. Venuto, Christine Baylis, and György Losonczy. Hemodynamic and renal effects of U-46619, a TXA2/PGH2 analog, in late-pregnant rats. Am. J. Physiol. 276 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 45): R831–R837, 1999.—The vasoconstrictor effects of pressor agents are attenuated during pregnancy. Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) is produced in great quantities during hypertension in pre...

In the present study, the roles of ovarian steroid hormones and thyroxine (T4) in regulating the secretion of calcitonin (CT) in pregnant rats were examined. The levels of plasma progesterone, pre- and post-CaCl2plasma CT, and recovery time of plasma CT and calcium after calcium challenge were greatest in midterm pregnant rats. The levels of basal plasma progesterone, CT, calcium, and recovery ...

Davis, Justin R., Jena B. Giardina, Gachavis M. Green, Barbara T. Alexander, Joey P. Granger, and Raouf A. Khalil. Reduced endothelial NO-cGMP vascular relaxation pathway during TNF-induced hypertension in pregnant rats. Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 282: R390–R399, 2002; 10.1152/ajpregu.00270.2001.—Placental ischemia during pregnancy is thought to release cytokines such as t...

Despite an increase of circulatory volume and of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activity, pregnancy is paradoxically accompanied by a decrease in blood pressure. We have reported that the decrease in blood pressure was maintained in pregnant rats despite overactivation of RAAS following reduction in sodium intake. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the opposite...

Background: Antiepileptic drugs, such as sodium valproate (SV), are teratogenic as their usage by the pregnant mother has been associated with an increased risk of major congenital abnormalities in the fetus. In this study, the effects of voluntary exercise and prenatal exposure to SV on learning, memory, and anxiety in rats’ offspring are investigated.Methods: In the present study, 70 fe...

Although soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), an antagonist of vascular endothelial growth factor and placental growth factor, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension during preeclampsia, the mechanisms whereby enhanced sFlt-1 production leads to hypertension remain unclear. Both sFlt-1 and endothelin 1 productions are elevated in women with preeclampsia and in placental...

To determine how a reduction in maternal hypertriglyceridemia during late pregnancy may affect glucose/insulin relationships, pregnant and virgin rats were orally treated with acipimox, a potent antilipolytic agent. In 20-day pregnant rats receiving 80 mg of acipimox, plasma triglycerides (TG), free fatty acids (FFA), and glycerol decreased more than in virgin rats shortly after the drug (up to...

BACKGROUND Preeclampsia is associated with increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antiangiogenic factor, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1). Moreover, recent studies have indicated that chronic sFlt-1 excess causes hypertension in pregnant animals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of ROS in mediating sFlt-1-induced hypertension in the pregnant rat. ...

Carbon tetrachloride (CCI,) is well known to indnce hepatotoxicity after being metabolized to trichloromcthyl frec radical (・CCI,) by CYP2El . In the prcsent study, the hepatotoxicity induccd by a single oral dose (2,OOO mg/kg) of CCI, was compared bctween pregnant (gestation days (GD) I3 and 19) or postpartum (postpartum days (PPD) 1, 13 and 27) and non-pregnant rats. Hepatotoxicity in CCI,tre...