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Chronic moderate hypoxia during in ovo development alters arterial reactivity in chickens

  • Cardiovascular System
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Abstract

We previously observed arterial sympathetic hyperinnervation and endothelial dysfunction in the chicken embryo after exposure to chronic hypoxia. We now investigate whether changes in arterial properties could also be observed at 14–15 weeks of life. Eggs of White Leghorn chicken were incubated under normoxic or moderately hypoxic (15% O2 from days 6–19 of a 21-day incubation) conditions. Experiments were performed at 14–15 weeks of life under standard conditions (Hm: males exposed to hypoxia; Hf: females exposed to hypoxia; Nm: males exposed to normoxia; Nf: females exposed to normoxia). Body weight at hatching and at 14–15 weeks was not affected by in ovo exposure to hypoxia. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were not significantly altered by chronic in ovo hypoxia. However, isolated femoral arteries were more sensitive to electrical stimulation (frequency in Hz of half-maximal contraction, Hm: 1.62±0.33, Hf: 1.92±0.88, Nm: 2.49±0.49, Nf: 2.83±0.31) and pharmacological stimulation of peri-arterial sympathetic nerves (contraction in N/m in response to tyramine: Hm: 5.27±0.85, Hf: 4.10±0.9, Nm: 2.26±0.67, Nf: 3.65±0.51, p=0.07) after in ovo hypoxia. In side branches of the femoral artery, the effect of NO synthase blockade with L-NAME on contraction (in N/m) in response to high K+ (Hm: 0.35±0.91, Hf: 1.29±0.36, Nm: 2.88±0.19, Nf: 2.79±0.58) and on the sensitivity to acetylcholine (ΔpD2, H: 0.32±0.11, N: 0.62±0.05) was reduced after in ovo hypoxia. The present study shows that exposure to chronic moderate hypoxia during development affects the contractile and relaxing arterial responses of 14- to 15-week-old chickens. Although hypoxia did not lead to changes in blood pressure at this age, the observed effects on arterial sympathetic and endothelial function may represent early signs of future cardiovascular abnormalities.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Professor H. Nishimura and Dr. D. Zhang (Dept. Physiology, University of Tennessee, Memphis, USA) for their advice and help with regards to blood pressure measurements in the chickens. J. Bost and Dr. R. Hermans (Dept. Pharmacology and toxicology, Maastricht University, The Netherlands) kindly performed measurements of plasma catecholamines and corticosterone. The authors thank J. Debets for technical assistance. The help from Dr. Nieman with the statistical analysis is gratefully acknowledged. This work was supported by a grant from “Vrienden van het AZM”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Tansln. 10, University Hospital Maastricht, 6202 AZ , Maastricht, The Netherlands

    C. E. Blanco

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Research Institute Growth and Development (GROW), University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    K. Ruijtenbeek, C. G. A. Kessels & C. E. Blanco

  3. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University and School of Life Sciences, Transnational University Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    B. J. A. Janssen, N. J. J. E. Bitsch, G. E. Fazzi, G. M. J. Janssen & J. De Mey

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  1. K. Ruijtenbeek
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Correspondence to C. E. Blanco.

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Ruijtenbeek, K., Kessels, C.G.A., Janssen, B.J.A. et al. Chronic moderate hypoxia during in ovo development alters arterial reactivity in chickens. Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol 447, 158–167 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-003-1170-4

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