Influence of preterm birth on the vascularization of the left ventricular myocardium of rats in the postnatal ontogenesis

Introduction. Preterm birth disrupts important processes of fetal growth and development and can serve as a trigger for maladaptive organ remodeling in the postnatal ontogenesis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of preterm birth on the angiogenesis of the left ventricular myocardium of rats from days 1 to 21 of the postnatal ontogenesis. Materials and methods. We performed immunohistochemical (CD31) and morphometric (specific volume of blood capillaries, specific volume of cardiomyocytes, diameter of blood capillaries, trophic index and pericapillary diffusion zone) study of the left ventricular myocardium of full-term and prematurely born (12 and 24 hours preterm) Wistar rats (n=88) of both sexes on days 1, 7, 14, and 21 of the postnatal ontogenesis. Results. The birth of rats 12 and 24 hours preterm does not result in change in the specific volume of blood capillaries and the trophic index in the left ventricular myocardium on days 1, 7, 14, and 21 of the postnatal period. Preterm birth leads to a decrease in the specific volume of cardiomyocytes of the left ventricular myocardium of rats, compared to the parameters of animals in the control group, on days 7–21 of the postnatal period. Preterm birth results in a decrease in the diameter of the blood capillaries of the left ventricular myocardium in female rats on day 21 of the postnatal period. Preterm birth (24 hours preterm) is accompanied by an increase in the size of the zone of pericapillary diffusion in the left ventricular myocardium of rats on day 14 of the postnatal ontogenesis, in comparison with that of animals in the control group. Conclusion. The shorter the duration of the intrauterine period of development of rats, the greater the severity of the observed changes in the left ventricular myocardium are. It seems promising to study the functional state of endotheliocytes of myocardial blood vessels in preterm animals in the postnatal period. Keywords: preterm birth, prematurity, myocardium, angiogenesis, vascular indexes