# Characterization of Mild Delayed Gestational Hypertension in Rats Following Ozone Exposure

## TL;DR

This study shows that ozone exposure during pregnancy in rats leads to mild hypertension and other cardiovascular effects, suggesting air pollution could contribute to pregnancy complications.

## Contribution

The study introduces a rat model using radiotelemetry to assess cardiovascular effects of ozone exposure during pregnancy.

## Key findings

- Ozone exposure caused acute depression of heart rate and core body temperature in pregnant rats.
- Ozone-exposed rats showed a slight but significant increase in arterial blood pressure that lasted until term.
- The study demonstrates the feasibility of using murine models to study cardiovascular complications from inhaled toxicants during pregnancy.

## Abstract

The contribution of air pollution induced cardio-pulmonary damage on the development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and other adverse outcomes of pregnancy has gained increased attention as epidemiological data continues to highlight spatiotemporal pregnancy trends related to air pollution exposure. However clinical mechanistic data surrounding gestational complications remains sparse, necessitating the need for the use of animal models to study these types of complications of pregnancy. The current study seeks to examine the real-time effects of mid-gestational ozone exposure on maternal blood pressure and body temperature through the use of radiotelemetry in a rat model. The exposure resulted in acute depression of heart rate and core body temperature as compared to control animals. Ozone exposed animals also presented with a slight but significant increase in arterial blood pressure which was perpetuated until term. The data presented here illustrates the feasibility of murine models to assess cardiovascular complications caused by inhaled toxicants during the window of pregnancy.