Pregnancy differentially regulates the collagens types I and III in left ventricle from rat heart

Biomed Res Int. 2014:2014:984785. doi: 10.1155/2014/984785. Epub 2014 Jul 24.

Abstract

The pathologic cardiac remodeling has been widely documented; however, the physiological cardiac remodeling induced by pregnancy and its reversion in postpartum are poorly understood. In the present study we investigated the changes in collagen I (Col I) and collagen III (Col III) mRNA and protein levels in left ventricle from rat heart during pregnancy and postpartum. Col I and Col III mRNA expression in left ventricle samples during pregnancy and postpartum were analyzed by using quantitative PCR. Data obtained from gene expression show that Col I and Col III in left ventricle are upregulated during pregnancy with reversion in postpartum. In contrast to gene expression, the protein expression evaluated by western blot showed that Col I is downregulated and Col III is upregulated in left ventricle during pregnancy. In conclusion, the pregnancy differentially regulates collagens types I and III in heart; this finding could be an important molecular mechanism that regulates the ventricular stiffness in response to blood volume overload present during pregnancy which is reversed in postpartum.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Collagen Type I / genetics*
  • Collagen Type I / metabolism*
  • Collagen Type III / genetics*
  • Collagen Type III / metabolism*
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • Heart Ventricles / metabolism*
  • Postpartum Period / genetics
  • Pregnancy
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Up-Regulation / genetics

Substances

  • Collagen Type I
  • Collagen Type III
  • RNA, Messenger