Vidanapathirana, A. K., Thompson, L. C., Mann, E. E., Odom, J. T., Holland, N. A., Sumner, S., Han, L., Lewin, A., Fennell, T., Brown, J. M., & Wingard, C. J. (2014). PVP formulated Fullerene (C60) increases Rho-kinase dependent Vascular Tissue Contractility in Pregnant Sprague Dawley Rats. Reproductive Toxicology, 49, 86-100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2014.07.074
Pregnancy is a unique physiological state, in which C60 fullerene is reported to be distributed in both maternal and fetal tissues. Tissue distribution of C60 differs between pregnant and non-pregnant states, presumably due to functional changes in vasculature during pregnancy. We hypothesized that, polyvinylpyrorrolidone (PVP) formulated C60 (C60/PVP) increases vascular tissue contractility during pregnancy by increasing Rho-kinase activity. C60/PVP was administered intravenously to pregnant and non-pregnant female Sprague Dawley rats. Vascular responses were assessed using wire myography 24hours post-exposure. Increased stress generation was observed in uterine artery, thoracic aorta and umbilical vein. Rho-Rho-kinase mediated force maintenance was increased in arterial segments from C60/PVP exposed pregnant rats when compared to PVP exposed rats. Our findings suggest that intravenous exposure to C60/PVP during pregnancy increases vascular tissue contractility of the uterine artery through elements of Rho-Rho-kinase signaling during late stages of pregnancy
