Authors:

Charlotte Cleary

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About Paper:

Pregnancy induces significant physiological changes in both the mother and fetus, impacting their survival. Hormonal expression during and after pregnancy has a notable effect on cardiovascular complications and maternal hemostasis. However, there is a significant knowledge gap regarding the influence of maternal behaviors, specifically lactation, on cardiac remodeling. This study investigates the effects of lactation on cardiac parameters, including stroke volume and wall thickness, by weaning mice at 1 week. We assess cardiac impact using a 4D graphical user interface (GUI) developed by Purdue University, collecting and segmenting data from gestational days (6.5, 12.5, 15.5, and 18.5) and postpartum days (ppDay 1, 4, 7, 14, and 21). Blood pressure is measured using a tail-cuff system (Coda, Kent Scientific), while ultrasound images of the left ventricle were collected in long-axis and short-axis positions with a VEVO 3100 ultrasound (FUJIFILM VisualSonics). A MATLAB GUI enables the generation of 4D heart segmentations, facilitating serial cardiac ultrasound measurements. We anticipate significant increases in cardiac output, cardiac compliance, stroke volume, and blood pressure, peaking during mid-pregnancy, stabilizing until postpartum, after which it may decreases over two weeks. Relative wall thickness is expected to gradually increase throughout pregnancy and lactation, reaching a plateau after weaning. Through visualizing changes in the endocardium and epicardium using the Purdue MATLAB GUI, we aim to understand why lactation influences cardiac remodeling and its impact on post-childbirth health.

Source:

Purdue University / 2023

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No topics listed

Co-authors:

Charlotte Cleary