Oxidative stress induced by prenatal LPS leads to endothelial dysfunction and renal haemodynamic changes through angiotensin II/NADPH oxidase pathway: Prevention by early treatment with α-tocopherol.

We investigated whether hypertension induced by maternal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration during gestation is linked to peripheral vascular and renal hemodynamic regulation, through angiotensin II → NADPH-oxidase signalling, and whether these changes are directly linked to intrauterine oxidative stress. Female Wistar rats were submitted to LPS, in the absence or presence of α-tocopherol during pregnancy. Malondialdehyde in placenta and in livers from dams and foetuses was enhanced by LPS.