The Influence Of Prenatal Hypoxia On Ion Channels Of Cerebral Artery In The Offspring Rat

Objective: To investigate the effect of prenatal hypoxia on ion channels in thecerebral artery from the adult offspring rat.Methods: Pregnant SD rats (gestation period,4-21day) were placed in hypoxicchamber (10.5%O2), pups were born and then raised under normoxia (21%O2)condition until adulthood (30³3weeks). Fetuses born and grown under normoxicconditions were used as controls. Middle cerebral arteries were collected from adult ratoffspring, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were obtained by acute enzymeseparation method, and conventional whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamptechnique was used to record resting membrane potential(Em), potassium current(K+current) and calcium current(Ca²⁺current).Results: In hypoxic group, electrophysiological measurements showed adepolarized cellular membrane potential. Compared with control group, the K+currentwas lower in middle cerebral artery smooth muscle cells (MCASMCs) from hypoxicrats, while Ca²⁺current was higher in the hypoxic group.Conclusions: Prenatal hypoxia depolorized membrane potential, decreased K+current and increased Ca²⁺current in MCASMCs in the adult offspring rat.