Date of Award

Spring 2026

Degree Type

Thesis

Department

Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience

Director of Thesis

Dr. Fiona Hollis

Second Reader

Tim Philbeck

Abstract

Approximately 15% of women experience postpartum cardiovascular complications, including hypertension, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. These conditions can impair maternal functioning and maternal-infant bonding, while increasing long-term health risks. Despite their severity, the underlying causes remain unclear. Stress is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and gestation represents a period of heightened vulnerability. As CVD is a leading cause of maternal mortality, identifying contributing factors is critical.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and troponin I are cardiac biomarkers involved in fluid regulation, blood pressure, and myocardial injury. We hypothesized that gestational stress alters cardiovascular function, geometry, and increases postpartum biomarker expression.

To test this hypothesis, we exposed four groups of adult female rats to either 10 days of chronic gestational stress or handling (control conditions). We assessed cardiac function on postpartum days 14 and 24 using echocardiography. Rats were euthanized 24 hours after the last echocardiography session, and the heart was dissected, weighed, homogenized, and prepared for protein analysis via western blot.

We found that gestational stress reduced interventricular septal thickness, while parity decreased posterior left ventricular measurements and increased ejection fraction. In the left atria, stress decreased ANP and Pro-ANP, with an interaction on BNP.

First Page

1

Last Page

67

Rights

© 2026, Arshaam Kordamiri

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