Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2019; 112(1): 76-77

Prenatal Stress: Molecular Mechanisms and Cardiovascular Disease

Marcelo Diarcadia Mariano Cezar , Mariana Janini Gomes, Ricardo Luiz Damatto

DOI: 10.5935/abc.20180246

This Short Editorial is referred by the Research article "Sex-Related Effects of Prenatal Stress on Region-Specific Expression of Monoamine Oxidase A and ? Adrenergic Receptors in Rat Hearts".

Concern of the researchers in finding the causes of cardiovascular disorders is evident. Recently, scientists are focusing in intrauterine environment investigations in order to seek early causes of these diseases. Studies indicates that prenatal stress increases risk of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood.^, Among the risks, susceptibility to adult hypertension is a concern, and the sympathetic nervous system is one of the targets of interest, specifically the activity of beta-adrenergic receptors, which has subtype β1 cardiac predominance.^, These receptors modulates cardiac changes and may lead to ventricular dysfunction as well as severe conditions of heart failure, which increases mortality risk as showed in hypertensive rats studies.^,

Another factor associated with the occurrence of heart failure is monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A). This enzyme has its activity increased in hypertension and is responsible for the degradation of catecholamine, which increases the reactive oxygen species generation leading to cardiotoxicity. Therefore, it is extremely important target the causes to prevent or attenuate the of alterations resulting from cardiovascular diseases.

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