We demonstrate that maternal perinatal stress is associated with sex- and age-dependent impact on the cardiovascular system in their offspring. The effect was most significant in adolescent female and adult male offspring. Observed changes in hemodynamic parameters and dopaminergic activity of the medulla oblongata are novel results relevant to understanding the cardiovascular impact of maternal perinatal stress on the offspring. The cardiovascular changes observed in adult offspring suggest a potential long-term, multigenerational impact of maternal perinatal stress.

Background/Objectives: Anthracyclines remain a pivotal element of numerous tumor management regimens; however, their utilization is associated with a range of adverse effects, the most significant of which is cardiotoxicity. Research is constantly being conducted to identify substances that could be incorporated into ongoing cancer chemotherapy to mitigate anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. Recently, the apelinergic system has received a lot of attention in this field due to its involvement in cardiovascular regulation. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the ability of the apelinergic system to inhibit the cardiotoxic effects of anthracycline—doxorubicin (DOX). Methods: In this study, 54 Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into seven groups and received intraperitoneal injections with DOX once a week for 4 consecutive weeks. The osmotic pumps provided a continuous release of NaCl (control groups), apelin-13 and elabela at two different doses, and the apelin receptor (APJ) antagonist ML221. Electrocardiography (ECG) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with assessment of left ventricular (LV) systolic parameters were conducted on the first and last days of the experiment. Results: Lower doses of APJ agonists prevented the prolongation of QT and QTc intervals induced by DOX, while higher doses of these drugs exerted no such effect. The TTE examination confirmed DOX-induced LV systolic dysfunction. Moreover, the TTE examination revealed an improvement in the LV systolic parameters in the DOX-treated groups that were simultaneously administered APJ agonists. Conclusions: Our findings support the use of apelin and elabela as potential cardioprotective agents against anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity.

In the present study, we aimed at elucidating whether exposure to chronic stress affects the expression of cardiac mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs), whether it influences cardiac structure and function, and whether MRs blockade attenuates the stress‐induced changes. Young adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into four groups: rats exposed to restraint stress, rats assigned to eplerenone treatment, rats exposed to restraint stress and eplerenone treatment, and a control group. After 4 weeks of the experiment, rats' blood pressure and heart rate were recorded, transthoracic echocardiography was performed, and blood samples and hearts were collected for further analysis. The study showed that chronic stress increases cardiac glucocorticoid mRNA expression but does not change the expression of MR mRNA. Chronic stress increases matrix metalloproteinases activity in the cardiac muscle. Mild left ventricular pro‐hypertrophic changes were noted on echocardiogram. The changes were partially prevented by MR blockade with the use of eplerenone. These findings indicate that MRs participate in cardiac responses to chronic stress; however, this is not directly associated with significant changes in cardiac MRs expression.