Notch3 signaling activation in smooth muscle cells promotes extrauterine growth restriction-induced pulmonary hypertension.

•Extrauterine growth restriction male rats developed increased pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary arteriolar remodeling.•Elevated cell proliferation and migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in EUGR rats were found for the first time.•Notch3 and its downstream effector Hey1 were upregulated in EUGR rat models.•Pharmacological and genetic ablation of Notch3 attenuated PAH features in vitro and in vivo.