Maternal hypertensive condition alters adipose tissue function and blood pressure sensitivity in offspring

Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by hypertension, proteinuria, and fetal growth restriction during pregnancy, suggesting that the preeclamptic intrauterine environment may affect the growth and health of the offspring. This study aimed to how maternal hypertension affects male offspring growth, focusing on lipid metabolism and blood pressure in mice.Female mice were infused with angiotensin II (Ang II) on gestational day 12. Dysregulation and accumulation of lipid were observed in the placenta of Ang II-induced maternal hypertensive dams, associating with fetal growth restriction. Ang II-offspring had lower birth weight than in the control-offspring. Isolated and differentiated adipocyte from neonatal mice of Ang II-dams showed higher Pparγ mRNA expression compared with the control group. Lower body weight tendency had continued in Ang II-offspring during long period, body weight of Ang II-offspring caught up the control-offspring at 16 weeks of age. The adipose tissue of Ang II-offspring in adult also showed higher Pparγ mRNA expression with the accumulation of neutrophils and inflammatory monocytes than in those control. In addition, Ang II-offspring had higher basal blood pressure and higher sensitivity to hypertensive stimuli than in the control-offspring.Taken together, maternal hypertension induced by Ang II changes placental function, causing a lower birth weight. These changes in the intrauterine environment may affect adipocyte function and blood pressure of offspring after growth.