ORCID Profile
0000-0002-1097-2562
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2011
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-12-2009
Publisher: American Physiological Society
Date: 15-12-2015
DOI: 10.1152/AJPREGU.00040.2015
Abstract: While abnormal hemodynamic forces alter fetal myocardial growth, little is known about whether such insults affect fetal cardiac valve development. We hypothesized that chronically elevated systolic load would detrimentally alter fetal valve growth. Chronically instrumented fetal sheep received either a continuous infusion of adult sheep plasma to increase fetal blood pressure, or a lactated Ringer's infusion as a volume control beginning on day 126 ± 4 of gestation. After 8 days, mean arterial pressure was higher in the plasma infusion group (63.0 mmHg vs. 41.8 mmHg, P 0.05). Mitral annular septal-lateral diameter (11.9 mm vs. 9.1 mm, P 0.05), anterior leaflet length (7.7 mm vs. 6.4 mm, P 0.05), and posterior leaflet length (P2 4.0 mm vs. 3.0 mm, P 0.05) were greater in the elevated load group. mRNA levels of Notch-1, TGF-β 2 , Wnt-2b, BMP-1, and versican were suppressed in aortic and mitral valve leaflets elastin and α 1 type I collagen mRNA levels were suppressed in the aortic valves only. We conclude that sustained elevated arterial pressure load on the fetal heart valve leads to anatomic remodeling and, surprisingly, suppression of signaling and extracellular matrix genes that are important to valve development. These novel findings have important implications on the developmental origins of valve disease and may have long-term consequences on valve function and durability.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 17-04-2019
DOI: 10.1111/JOA.12990
Publisher: American Physiological Society
Date: 09-2013
DOI: 10.1152/AJPREGU.00175.2013
Abstract: Our objective was to test the hypothesis that fetal urine contains a substance(s) that regulates amniotic fluid volume by altering the rate of intramembranous absorption of amniotic fluid. In late gestation ovine fetuses, amniotic fluid volumes, urine, and lung liquid production rates, swallowed volumes and intramembranous volume and solute absorption rates were measured over 2-day periods under control conditions and when urine was removed and continuously replaced at an equal rate with exogenous fluid. Intramembranous volume absorption rate decreased by 40% when urine was replaced with lactated Ringer solution or lactated Ringer solution diluted 50% with water. Amniotic fluid volume doubled under both conditions. Analysis of the intramembranous sodium and chloride fluxes suggests that the active but not passive component of intramembranous volume absorption was altered by urine replacement, whereas both active and passive components of solute fluxes were altered. We conclude that fetal urine contains an unidentified substance(s) that stimulates active intramembranous transport of amniotic fluid across the amnion into the underlying fetal vasculature and thereby functions as a regulator of amniotic fluid volume.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-03-2015
DOI: 10.1111/BCPT.12395
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 21-05-2023
DOI: 10.1113/JP284538
Abstract: Contraction of cardiomyocytes is initiated at subcellular elements called dyads, where L‐type Ca 2+ channels in t‐tubules are located within close proximity to ryanodine receptors in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. While evidence from small rodents indicates that dyads are assembled gradually in the developing heart, it is unclear how this process occurs in large mammals. We presently examined dyadic formation in fetal and newborn sheep ( Ovis aries ), and the regulation of this process by fetal cardiac workload. By employing advanced imaging methods, we demonstrated that t‐tubule growth and dyadic assembly proceed gradually during fetal sheep development, from 93 days of gestational age until birth (147 days). This process parallels progressive increases in fetal systolic blood pressure, and includes step‐wise colocalization of L‐type Ca 2+ channels and the Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger with ryanodine receptors. These proteins are upregulated together with the dyadic anchor junctophilin‐2 during development, alongside changes in the expression of hiphysin‐2 (BIN1) and its partner proteins myotubularin and dynamin‐2. Increasing fetal systolic load by infusing plasma or occluding the post‐ductal aorta accelerated t‐tubule growth. Conversely, reducing fetal systolic load with infusion of enalaprilat, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, blunted t‐tubule formation. Interestingly, altered t‐tubule densities did not relate to changes in dyadic junctions, or marked changes in the expression of dyadic regulatory proteins, indicating that distinct signals are responsible for maturation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. In conclusion, augmenting blood pressure and workload during normal fetal development critically promotes t‐tubule growth, while additional signals contribute to dyadic assembly. image T‐tubule growth and dyadic assembly proceed gradually in cardiomyocytes during fetal sheep development, from 93 days of gestational age until the post‐natal stage. Increasing fetal systolic load by infusing plasma or occluding the post‐ductal aorta accelerated t‐tubule growth and hypertrophy. In contrast, reducing fetal systolic load by enalaprilat infusion slowed t‐tubule development and decreased cardiomyocyte size. Load‐dependent modulation of t‐tubule maturation was linked to altered expression patterns of the t‐tubule regulatory proteins junctophilin‐2 and hiphysin‐2 (BIN1) and its protein partners. Altered t‐tubule densities did not influence dyadic formation, indicating that distinct signals are responsible for maturation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Publisher: American Physiological Society
Date: 02-2007
DOI: 10.1152/AJPREGU.00484.2006
Abstract: While the fetal heart grows by myocyte enlargement and proliferation, myocytes lose their capacity for proliferation in the perinatal period after terminal differentiation. The relationship between myocyte enlargement, proliferation, and terminal differentiation has not been studied under conditions of combined arterial and venous hypertension, as occurs in some clinical conditions. We hypothesize that fetal arterial and venous hypertension initially leads to cardiomyocyte proliferation, followed by myocyte enlargement. Two groups of fetal sheep received intravascular plasma infusions for 4 or 8 days (from 130 days gestation) to increase vascular pressures. Fetal hearts were arrested in diastole and dissociated. Myocyte size, terminal differentiation (%binucleation), and cell cycle activity (Ki-67[+] cells as a % of mononucleated myocytes) were measured. We found that chronic plasma infusion greatly increased venous and arterial pressures. Heart (but not body) weights were ∼30% greater in hypertensive fetuses than controls. The incidence of cell cycle activity doubled in hypertensive fetuses compared with controls. After 4 days of hypertension, myocytes were (∼11%) longer, but only after 8 days were they wider (∼12%). After 8 days, %binucleation was ∼50% greater in hypertensive fetuses. We observed two phases of cardiomyocyte growth and maturation in response to fetal arterial and venous hypertension. In the early phase, the incidence of cell cycle activity increased and myocytes elongated. In the later phase, the incidence of cell cycle activity remained elevated, %binucleation increased, and cross sections were greater. This study highlights unique fetal adaptations of the myocardium and the importance of experimental duration when interpreting fetal cardiac growth data.
Publisher: American Physiological Society
Date: 09-2018
DOI: 10.1152/AJPREGU.00319.2017
Abstract: Fetal anemia causes rapid and profound changes in cardiac structure and function, stimulating proliferation of the cardiac myocytes, expansion of the coronary vascular tree, and impairing early contraction and relaxation. Although hypoxia-inducible factor-1α is sure to play a role, adenosine, a metabolic byproduct that increases coronary flow and growth, is implicated as a major stimulus for these adaptations. We hypothesized that genes involved in myocardial adenosine signaling would be upregulated in chronically anemic fetuses and that calcium-handling genes would be downregulated. After sterile surgical instrumentation under anesthesia, gestationally timed fetal sheep were made anemic by isovolumetric hemorrhage for 1 wk (16% vs. 35% hematocrit). At 87% of gestation, necropsy was performed to collect heart tissue for PCR and immunohistochemical analysis. Anemia increased mRNA expression levels of adenosine receptors ADORA 1, ADORA2A, and ADORA2B in the left and right ventricles (adenosine receptor ADORA3 was unchanged). In both ventricles, anemia also increased expression of ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1 and ecto-5′-nucleotidase. The genes for both equilibrative nucleoside transporters 1 and 2 were expressed more abundantly in the anemic right ventricle but were not different in the left ventricle. Neither adenosine deaminase nor adenosine kinase cardiac levels were significantly changed by chronic fetal anemia. Chronic fetal anemia did not significantly change cardiac mRNA expression levels of the voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel, ryanodine receptor 1, sodium-calcium exchanger, sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium transporting ATPase 2, phospholamban, or cardiac calsequestrin. These data support local metabolic integration of vascular and myocyte function through adenosine signaling in the anemic fetal heart.
Publisher: American Physiological Society
Date: 11-2018
DOI: 10.1152/AJPHEART.00314.2018
Abstract: Polycystic ovary syndrome is a complex and common disorder in women, and those affected experience an increased burden of cardiovascular disease. It is an intergenerational syndrome, as affected women with high androgen levels during pregnancy “program” fetal development, leading to a similar phenotype in their female offspring. The effect of excess maternal testosterone exposure on fetal cardiomyocyte growth and maturation is unknown. Pregnant ewes received biweekly injections of vehicle (control) or 100 mg testosterone propionate between 30 and 59 days of gestation (early T) or between 60 and 90 days of gestation (late T). Fetuses were delivered at ~135 days of gestation, and their hearts were enzymatically dissociated to measure cardiomyocyte growth (dimensional measurements), maturation (proportion binucleate), and proliferation (nuclear Ki-67 protein). Early T depressed serum insulin-like growth factor 1 and caused intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR P 0.0005). Hearts were smaller with early T ( P 0.001) due to reduced cardiac myocyte maturation ( P 0.0005) and proliferation ( P = 0.017). Maturation was also lower in male than female fetuses ( P = 0.004) independent of treatment. Late T did not affect cardiac growth. Early excess maternal testosterone exposure depresses circulating insulin-like growth factor 1 near term and causes IUGR in both female and male offspring. These fetuses have small, immature hearts with reduced proliferation, which may reduce cardiac myocyte endowment and predispose to adverse cardiac growth in postnatal life. While excess maternal testosterone exposure leads to polycystic ovary syndrome and cardiovascular disease in female offspring, it may also predispose to complications of IUGR and cardiovascular disease in male offspring. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Using measurements of cardiac myocyte growth and maturation in an ovine model of polycystic ovary syndrome, this study demonstrates that early gestation excess maternal testosterone exposure reduces near-term cardiomyocyte proliferation and maturation in intrauterine growth-restricted female and male fetuses. The effect of testosterone is restricted to exposure during a specific period early in pregnancy, and the effects appear mediated through reduced insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling. Furthermore, male fetuses, regardless of treatment, had fewer mature cardiomyocytes than female fetuses.
Publisher: American Physiological Society
Date: 03-2007
DOI: 10.1152/JAPPLPHYSIOL.00937.2006
Abstract: The generation of new myocytes is an essential process of in utero heart growth. Most, or all, cardiac myocytes lose their capacity for proliferation during the perinatal period through the process of terminal differentiation. An increasing number of studies focus on how experimental interventions affect cardiac myocyte growth in the fetal sheep. Nevertheless, fundamental questions about normal growth of the fetal heart remain unanswered. In this study, we determined that during the last third of gestation the hearts of fetal sheep grew primarily by four processes. 1) Myocyte proliferation contributed substantially to daily cardiac mass gain, and the number of cardiac myocytes continued to increase to term. 2) The (hitherto unrecognized) contribution to cardiac growth by the increase in myocyte size associated with the transition from mononucleation to binucleation (terminal differentiation) became considerable from ∼115 days of gestational age (dGA) until term (145dGA). Because binucleation became the more frequent outcome of myocyte cell cycle activity after ∼115dGA, the number of binucleated myocytes increased at the expense of the number of mononucleated myocytes. Both the interval between nuclear isions and the duration of cell cycle activity in myocytes decreased substantially during this same period. Finally, cardiac growth was in part due to enlargement of 3) mononucleated and 4) binucleated myocytes, which grew in cross-sectional diameter but not length during the last third of gestation. These data on normal cardiac growth may enable a more detailed understanding of the consequences of experimental and pathological interventions in prenatal life.
Publisher: Bioscientifica
Date: 02-10-2015
DOI: 10.1530/JOE-15-0309
Abstract: Immature contractile cardiomyocytes proliferate to rapidly increase cell number, establishing cardiomyocyte endowment in the perinatal period. Developmental changes in cellular maturation, size and attrition further contribute to cardiac anatomy. These physiological processes occur concomitant with a changing hormonal environment as the fetus prepares itself for the transition to extrauterine life. There are complex interactions between endocrine, hemodynamic and nutritional regulators of cardiac development. Birth has been long assumed to be the trigger for major differences between the fetal and postnatal cardiomyocyte growth patterns, but investigations in normally growing sheep and rodents suggest this may not be entirely true in sheep, these differences are initiated before birth, while in rodents they occur after birth. The aim of this review is to draw together our understanding of the temporal regulation of these signals and cardiomyocyte responses relative to birth. Further, we consider how these dynamics are altered in stressed and suboptimal intrauterine environments.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-07-2015
DOI: 10.1096/FJ.15-272013
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-04-2007
Publisher: The Endocrine Society
Date: 08-2006
DOI: 10.1210/EN.2006-0061
Abstract: The role of cortisol in regulating cardiac myocyte growth in the near-term fetal sheep is unknown. We hypothesized that cortisol would suppress cardiomyocyte proliferation and stimulate cardiomyocyte binucleation and enlargement, signs of terminal differentiation. Cardiomyocyte dimensions and percent binucleation were determined in isolated cardiac myocytes from seven cortisol-treated and seven control fetuses percentage of myocytes positive for Ki-67 was determined in an additional four cortisol-treated and four control hearts. Cortisol was infused into the circumflex coronary artery at subpressor rates (0.5 microg/kg.min, 7 d). Cortisol infusion had no hemodynamic effects, compared with controls or pretreatment conditions. Cortisol treatment increased heart weight (44.0 +/- 8.7 g vs. control, 34.9 +/- 9.1 g, P < 0.05). Heart to body weight ratio was greater in treated hearts, compared with controls (10.3 +/- 1.9 vs. 7.7 +/- 0.9 g/kg, P < 0.01). Ventricular myocyte length, width, and percent binucleation were not different between groups. The proportion of treated myocytes in the cell cycle staining for Ki-67 was higher in the left ventricle (5.5 +/- 0.1 vs. 2.7 +/- 0.4%, P < 0.005) and right ventricle (4.4 +/- 0.4 vs. 3.7 +/- 0.7%, P < 0.05), compared with controls. Wet weight to dry weight ratios from cortisol-treated and control hearts were not different. In conclusion, whereas cortisol infused into the fetal sheep heart has no effect on cardiomyocyte size or maturational state, it stimulates entry of cardiomyocytes in the cell cycle. Thus, increases in fetal heart mass associated with subpressor doses of cortisol are due to cardiomyocyte proliferation and not hypertrophic growth.
Location: United States of America
No related grants have been discovered for Sonnet Jonker.