Metalloproteinase expression and activity in fetal cardiopathy after perigestational alcohol consumption up to organogenesis, in mouse

VENTUREIRA, MR; CEBRAL E

Mar del Plata

Congreso; LXIII- SAIC, SAI, SAFIS; 2018

SAIC

Previously we observed that perigestational alcohol consumption up to day 10 of mouse gestation (D10) produces abnormal atrial and ventricular myocardial wall, elevated apoptosis, diminished proliferation and altered heart rate in fetuses at day 13 of gestation (D13) after cessation of alcohol intake at D10. Given the role of metalloproteinases (MMPs) in fetal cardiogenesis and that their expression and/or activity are regulated by oxidative stress, we hypothesize that fetal cardiac alterations after perigestational alcohol intake are associated with disrupted MMP expression/activity. Ethanol 10% in drinking water was administered to murine CF-1 females for 15 days before and up to D10, and gestation continued with water until D13 (treated females (TF)). Control females (CF) were administered with drinking water without ethanol. Fetuses and fetal hearts were dissected and prepared for transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, zymography and NADPH-diaphorase reaction (assay of nitric oxide synthase activity). Neither MMP-2 nor MMP-9 protein expressions were altered, but both Pro-MMP-2 and MMP-2 gelatinolitic activities were elevated in hearts from TF-fetuses compared to the controls (p