1. Investigación

The aim of this study was to characterize alterations in vascular structure and mechanics in murine mesenteric arteries from obese non-hypertensive mice, as well as their relationship with adipokines. Four-week old C57BL/6J male mice were assigned either to a control (C, 10% kcal from fat) or a high-fat diet (HFD, 45% kcal from fat) for 32 weeks. HFD animals weighed 30% more than controls (p b 0.001), exhibited similar blood pressure, increased leptin, insulin and superoxide anion (O2 •−) levels, and reduced adiponectin levels and nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Arterial structure showed an outward remodeling with an increase in total number of both adventitial and smoothmuscle cells inHFD.Moreover, HFDmice exhibited an increased arterial stiffness assessed by β-values (C=2.4±0.5 vs HFD=5.3±0.8; p b 0.05) and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV, C=3.4±0.1 vs HFD = 3.9 ± 0.1; p b 0.05). β-Values and PWV positively correlated with leptin, insulin or O2 •− levels, whereas they negatively correlated with adiponectin levels and NO bioavailability (p b 0.01). A reduction in fenestrae number together with an increase in type-I collagen amount (p b 0.05) were observed in HFD. These data demonstrate that HFD accounts for the development of vascular remodeling and arterial stiffness associated with adipokine dysregulation and oxidative stress, independently of hypertension development.

Fetal undernutrition programs cardiometabolic diseases, with higher susceptibility in males. The mechanisms implicated are not fully understood and may be related to sex differences in placental adaptation. To evaluate this hypothesis, we investigated placental oxidative balance, vascularization, glucocorticoid barrier, and fetal growth in rats exposed to 50% global nutrient restriction from gestation day 11 (MUN, n = 8) and controls (n = 8). At gestation day 20 (G20), we analyzed maternal, placental, and fetal weights; oxidative damage, antioxidants, corticosterone, and PlGF (placental growth factor, spectrophotometry); and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), 11 -HSD2, p22phox, XO, SOD1, SOD2, SOD3, catalase, and UCP2 expression (Western blot). Compared with controls, MUN dams exhibited lower weight and plasma proteins and higher corticosterone and catalase without oxidative damage. Control male fetuses were larger than female fetuses. MUN males had higher plasma corticosterone and were smaller than control males, but had similar weight than MUN females. MUN male placenta showed higher XO and lower 11 - HSD2, VEGF, SOD2, catalase, UCP2, and feto-placental ratio than controls. MUN females had similar feto-placental ratio and plasma corticosterone than controls. Female placenta expressed lower XO, 11 -HSD2, and SOD3; similar VEGF, SOD1, SOD2, and UCP2; and higher catalase than controls, being 11 -HSD2 and VEGF higher compared to MUN males. Male placenta has worse adaptation to undernutrition with lower efficiency, associated with oxidative disbalance and reduced vascularization and glucocorticoid barrier. Glucocorticoids and low nutrients may both contribute to programming in MUN males.