Physiological Remodeling of Mammalian Cardiovascular Tissues During Development and Pregnancy

怀孕伴随着心血管疾病的异常变化。血容量增加约40%，心输出量增加50%以上，其中一半以上的增加发生在前8周。这些变化触发了心血管组织的结构重塑，如心脏和主动脉，因为它们适应了怀孕增加的负荷条件。然而，大约10%的孕妇患有心血管并发症，这可能导致不利的结果。未能进行适当的心血管适应（包括组织重塑）与胎儿生长受限和先兆子痫有关，这是两种最常见和最严重的妊娠并发症。最近的证据表明，心血管对妊娠的适应可能是不可逆的，在随后的妊娠中会增强，并可能增加高血压和动脉动脉瘤等心血管疾病的风险。尽管心血管适应对胎儿和孕产妇健康起着关键作用，但很少有研究检查妊娠期间的心血管重塑。为了了解和干预这些妊娠期心血管疾病，首先了解母体心血管组织的正常结构功能适应是至关重要的。本研究将首次全面评估妊娠期间关键心血管组织的内在结构-力学变化。

Pregnancy is accompanied by extraordinary changes in cardiovascular conditions. Blood volume is increased by ~40% and cardiac output increases by more than 50%, with more than half of that increase occurring in the first 8 weeks. These changes trigger structural remodelling in cardiovascular tissues, such as the heart and aorta, as they adapt to the increased loading conditions of pregnancy. However, approximately 10% of pregnant women suffer cardiovascular complications which can lead to unfavourable outcomes. Failure to undergo proper cardiovascular adaptations-including tissue remodelling-is associated with fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia: the two most common and serious pregnancy complications. More recent evidence has suggested that cardiovascular adaptations to pregnancy may be irreversible, augmented in subsequent pregnancies, and may increase the risk for cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension and arterial aneurysms. Despite the key role of cardiovascular adaptations to fetal and maternal health, very few studies have examined cardiovascular remodelling during pregnancy. To understand and intervene in these cardiovascular disorders of pregnancy, it is crucial to first understand the normal structural-functional adaptations made by maternal cardiovascular tissues. This study will provide the first comprehensive assessment of the intrinsic structural-mechanical changes of key cardiovascular tissues during pregnancy.