Characterization Of Pregnancy Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy In Rats

<p>During pregnancy, an increase in blood volume occurs to compensate for fetal development, resulting in cardiac hypertrophy. For the majority of women, this physiological cardiac hypertrophy resolves following pregnancy. Prolonged cardiac hypertrophy can lead to heart failure. We propose that by studying the biochemical mechanisms that mediate healthy cardiac remodeling associated with pregnancy, we will gain a better understanding of mechanisms involved in pathological cardiac hypertrophy. To determine the biochemical changes that occur during pregnancy induced cardiac remodeling, we subjected rats to timed matings and collected morphological and biochemical data from not pregnant, 19 days pregnant, and 24 hours postpartum. The heart weights increased approximately 6% on the 19th day of pregnancy as compared to their non-pregnant littermates. Histological analysis confirmed an increase in cardiomyocyte size associated with the increase in heart size. Real-time PCR analysis revealed alterations in expression of some gene markers of hypertrophy during pregnancy and postpartum. Our data demonstrates pregnancy induced cardiac remodeling in the rat involves both morphological and biochemical changes. </p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biological Sciences

Grantor dc:publisher

Eastern Kentucky University

Year

2011

Author dc:creator

• Holden, Patricia

• Cardiac
• Cardiac Hypertrophy
• Gene Expression
• Hypertrophy
• miRNA
• Pregnancy
• Molecular Biology

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2011 Patricia Holden

Repository record dc:identifier

https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/35

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:encompass.eku.edu:etd-1034