Aims: 

The lack of oxygen is considered to be one of the main interfering factors and the reason of different diseases of newborns and prepuberty.

Methods: 

Pregnant rat females were exposed to acute hypoxia on the 9–10^th day of gestation (the beginning of organogenesis). We evaluated the acute hypoxia influence on the cardiomyocytes contractility in newborn rats, ECG, behavioural activity and biogenic amines levels in brain were investigated in grown – up descendants.

Results: 

It was shown that newborn rats, survived prenatal hypoxia, were born with lower birth weight compared to control and remained behind in physical development up to at least the 60^th day of life. Antenatal stress led to noticeable changes of chronotropic index and NE-induced chronotropic effects in hypoxic group in comparison with control one. Thus, the baseline cardiomyocytes contractility rate was increased by 50-60% while NE-induced enhancement of contraction was significantly lower in animals survived antenatal hypoxia. The increase of heart rate and activation of sympathetic system were observed in adult rats survived prenatal stress. The significant differences in heart rhythm have been attributed to alterations in brainstem development. The enhancement of NE- and DA- levels both in brain stem and cerebral cortex were observed in experimental males whereas females demonstrated the significant increase of 5 HT and DA in brain stem only. The behaviour changes following prenatal hypoxia were registered only in females demonstrated the decrease of both locomotion and rearing.

Conclusion: 

The prenatal hypoxic stress contributes to the development of severe neurological and cardiovascular impairments in grown-up descendants.