Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. Although multiple factors contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension, studies by Dr David Barker reporting an inverse relationship between birth weight and blood pressure led to the hypothesis that slow growth during fetal life increased blood pressure and the risk for cardiovascular disease in later life. It is now recognized that growth during infancy and childhood, in addition to exposure to adverse influences during fetal life, contributes to the developmental programming of increased cardiovascular risk. Numerous epidemiological studies support the link between influences during early life and later cardiovascular health; experimental models provide proof of principle and indicate that numerous mechanisms contribute to the developmental origins of chronic disease. Sex has an impact on the severity of cardiovascular risk in experimental models of developmental insult. Yet, few studies examine the influence of sex on blood pressure and cardiovascular health in low-birth weight men and women. Fewer still assess the impact of ageing on sex differences in programmed cardiovascular risk. Thus, the aim of the present review is to highlight current data about sex differences in the developmental programming of blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
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March 2016
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Cover Image
Cover Image
Image of immunofluroscence staining of mouse gonads (left – testis and right – ovary) attached to the mesonephros from between embryonic day 12 and 13. Green indicates the sertoli cell protein Anti-Mullerain Hormone (AMH) and red indicates the ovarian protein called Foxl2. Blue indicates DAPI (which stains the nucleus). The antibodies are AMH (MIS) E19 santa Cruz, sc-34833 and Foxl2 Novus NB100-1277. For further details please see pp. 421-432. The image was kindly generated and provided by I. Knarston, K. Ayers and A. Sinclair.
Review Article|
January 26 2016
Gender differences in developmental programming of cardiovascular diseases
John Henry Dasinger;
John Henry Dasinger
*Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Center for Women's Health Research, Center for Developmental Disorders Research, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, U.S.A.
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Barbara T. Alexander
*Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Center for Women's Health Research, Center for Developmental Disorders Research, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, U.S.A.
Correspondence: Barbara T. Alexander (email [email protected]).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
August 28 2015
Revision Received:
November 06 2015
Accepted:
December 04 2015
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© 2016 Authors; published by Portland Press Limited
2016
Clin Sci (Lond) (2016) 130 (5): 337–348.
Article history
Received:
August 28 2015
Revision Received:
November 06 2015
Accepted:
December 04 2015
Citation
John Henry Dasinger, Barbara T. Alexander; Gender differences in developmental programming of cardiovascular diseases. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 March 2016; 130 (5): 337–348. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20150611
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