The effects of transient systemic hypotension on renal oxidative status, morphology and plasma nitric oxide levels in pregnant rats.

Objective. Transient hypotension attacks, frequently experienced during pregnancy, have detrimental effects on maternal and fetal physiology. Despite the strong autoregulatory mechanisms, kidneys are remarkably sensitive to hypoperfusion. Transient hypotension together with high metabolic demand and increased oxygen requirement during pregnancy may disturb the oxidant status and natural course of nitric oxide (NO) metabolism. Therefore, we investigated in this study the effects of systemic hypotension during pregnancy on kidney oxidant status and morphology and plasma NO levels in an experimental hypotension model in rats.Methods. Twenty-four rats were allocated into four groups as non-pregnant control (NPC), non-pregnant hypotensive (NPH), pregnant control (PC) and pregnant-hypotensive (PH). Blood pressure was monitored only (NPC, PC) or systemic hypotension by blood withdrawal (NPH, PH) was produced for 30 min following catheterisation on the 15th day of pregnancy or at a corresponding time in the contr...