DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.90264.2026 ISSN: 0363-6135
Osteopontin contributes to uterine artery dysfunction during chronic hypertensive pregnancy
Megan L. Lave, Jordan Jones, Violet S. Patterson, Stella Z. Li, Martin W. McBride, Delyth Graham, James C. Lacefield, Genevieve D. M. Eastabrook, Stephen J. RenaudThis study characterizes uterine artery dysfunction in a rat model of chronic maternal hypertension and identifies inflammation-related and matrix remodeling pathways associated with vascular pathology. We further demonstrate that osteopontin contributes to uterine artery dysfunction and introduce a novel osteopontin-deficient hypertensive rat model that exhibits improved uterine artery adaptation and fetal growth trajectory despite persistent maternal hypertension.