Role of Urotensin II in Intrauterine Atherosclerosis in Rabbits

Atherosclerosis is a manageable disease with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. We aimed to demonstrate early atherosclerosis in intrauterine life and its association with urotensin II (U-II), a potent vasoconstrictor and atherosclerotic neurohormone. A total of 10 rabbits were recruited for this study, and divided equally into two groups (n = 5). The rabbits got pregnant and fed with normal diet (Group-1) or fed with hyperlipidemic diet (Group-2) for six weeks. Caesarean section was performed and 15 pups were obtained from each group. Aortic tissues were dissected from both groups and examined histopathologically. Endothelial and smooth muscle cell damages, type-1 and type-2 lesions were assessed. Additionally, biochemical analyses were also performed. The hyperlipidemic diet induced aortic and endothelial cell damage. Development of fatty streaks and the appearance of foam cells were high in the aortic sections obtained from the high-fat diet group. The hyperlipidemic diet also significantly increased U-II immunoreactivity in the whole vessel layers of the mother aorta. In the pups from hyperlipidemic pregnant rabbits this significance was seen only in the adventitial layer but not in other sections. The birth weights of the hyperlipidemic group were lower than the control group. The appearance of foam cells and fatty streaks in the aortas of the hyperlipidemic fetuses indicate that atherosclerosis could begin in utero. Moreover, based on the increased immunoreactivity of U-II, we can point out that U-II, one of the most potent vasoconstrictor and atherosclerotic peptides, appears to play a role in intrauterine atherosclerosis.