Zhongchao Wang, Emily J Camm, Anna Maria Nuzzo, Ana-Mishel Spiroski, Katie L Skeffington, Thomas J Ashmore, Alessandro Rolfo, Tullia Todros, Angela Logan, Jin Ma, Michael P Murphy, Youguo Niu, Dino A Giussani
Gestational hypoxia adversely affects uterine artery function, increasing complications. However, an effective therapy remains unidentified. Here, we show in rodent uterine arteries that hypoxic pregnancy promotes hypertrophic remodelling, increases constrictor reactivity via protein kinase C signalling, and triggers compensatory dilatation via nitric oxide-dependent mechanisms and stimulation of large conductance Ca2+ -activated K+ -channels. Maternal in vivo oral treatment with the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ in hypoxic pregnancy normalises uterine artery reactivity and prevents vascular remodelling...
February 21, 2024: Journal of Physiology