Morphology and Contractility of the Murine Heart: Are Changes in Pregnancy-Induced Cardiac Function Exacerbated After Two Pregnancies?

Author

Rachel M. Weil, Ursinus CollegeFollow

Submission Date

4-20-2018

Document Type

Paper- Restricted to Campus Access

Department

Biology

Adviser

Beth Bailey

Committee Member

Xochitl Shuru

Committee Member

Rebecca Roberts

Committee Member

Beth Bailey

Department Chair

Beth Bailey

Project Description

The female body undergoes a multitude of physiological changes during pregnancy to compensate for the growing fetus. Some of the most interesting changes occur in the cardiovascular system. Increases in blood volume create a volume overload in the female heart which leads to hypertrophy. A small subset of women experience cardiac pathologies during and after pregnancy, even though the changes that happen in the female heart during pregnancy are thought to be adaptive. This study looks to understand the changes in contractile function that occur in murine heart during pregnancy and if these contractile changes are exacerbated after a second pregnancy.

Comments

This project was funded by a Van Sant grant.

Recommended Citation

Weil, Rachel M., "Morphology and Contractility of the Murine Heart: Are Changes in Pregnancy-Induced Cardiac Function Exacerbated After Two Pregnancies?" (2018). Biology Honors Papers. 18.
https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/biology_hon/18