Structure and function of cerebral and mesenteric resistance arteries in low-dose endotoxin-infused pregnant rats

ObjectiveSince the cerebrovasculature likely plays a prominent role in the pathophysiology of eclampsia, we assessed the effects of low-dose endotoxin-induced experimental preeclampsia on the function and structure of rat posterior cerebral arteries (PCA) and mesenteric arteries (MA).MethodsNonpregnant (NP) and pregnant (P) rats were infused with saline (NP-CTL, n = 9; P-CTL, n = 9) or low-dose endotoxin (NP-endotoxin, n = 9; P-endotoxin, n = 10). Myogenic activity, pressure of forced dilatation (FD) and structural properties were evaluated in PCA and MA.ResultsPCA underwent FD between 125 and 150 mmHg in P-endotoxin (repeated measures ANOVA vs 75 mmHg; P < 0.05) and between 150 and 175 mmHg in P-CTL and NP animals (repeated measures ANOVA vs 75 mmHg; P < 0.05). PCA myogenic tone was unaffected by pregnancy or endotoxin, however, pregnancy decreased the MA myogenic tone (P < 0.05 vs NP). Passive characteristics of PCA and MA were unaffected by pregnancy or endotoxin.ConclusionLow-dose endotoxin-infusion during pregnancy, but not pregnancy alone, decreased the pressure of FD in PCA. This may predispose to cerebral autoregulatory breakthrough and edema formation during increased blood pressure as seen in eclampsia.