Impact of Pregnancy on Atrial Connexins 40 and 43 in Mice

Pregnancy is associated with an increased incidence of supraventricular arrhythmias (SVAs), which can compromise the health of mother and fetus. Because of the increased prevalence of advanced maternal age and the presence of comorbid cardiovascular diseases, the incidence of SVAs during pregnancy has significantly increased. Because the underlying mechanisms are still largely unknown, we hypothesized that dysfunction of atrial connexins (Cx) 40 and 43, which facilitate uniform atrial conduction, might contribute to the development of SVAs during pregnancy.