Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2026
Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
Published on: November 20, 2015
Effects of maternal undernutrition during late gestation on the lung surfactant system and morphometry in rats
Chung-Ming Chen1, Leng-Fang Wang, Borcherng Su
1Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 110, Taiwan. cmchen@tmu.edu.tw
Insights
Maternal undernutrition causing intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in rats reduced lung surfactant lipids and altered lung structure post-birth. These changes may contribute to impaired pulmonary function in infants with IUGR.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Developmental Biology
- Neonatology
Background:
- Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is linked to diminished lung function in infancy and adulthood.
- Maternal nutrition significantly impacts fetal development, including lung maturation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of maternal undernutrition during late gestation on the pulmonary surfactant system and lung structure in developing rats.
- To determine if IUGR affects lung morphometry and surfactant composition in early postnatal life.
Main Methods:
- Rats from mothers on a restricted diet (50% of control intake) during the last week of gestation were studied.
- Lung morphometry, saturated phosphatidylcholine, corticosterone levels, and surfactant protein mRNA expression were assessed postnatally.
- Alveolar airspace volume and surface area were quantified at various postnatal days.
Main Results:
- IUGR rats showed reduced body weight, lung weight, and lung volume compared to controls.
- Significantly lower saturated phosphatidylcholine was observed in IUGR rats on postnatal day 1.
- Alveolar airspace volume and alveolar surface area were reduced in IUGR rats throughout the study period.
Conclusions:
- Maternal undernutrition during late gestation impairs lung development in IUGR offspring.
- Reduced lung surfactant lipids and altered lung structure are key findings in the immediate postnatal period.
- These developmental changes may underlie the persistent pulmonary function deficits observed in IUGR individuals.
Abstract:
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with reduced lung function during infancy and throughout adulthood. We investigated the effects of maternal undernutrition (50% rations of the control food intake) during the last week of gestation on the pulmonary surfactant system and lung morphometry in postnatal rats. IUGR rats exhibited a significantly lower body weight, lower lung weight, lower lung/body weight ratio, lower lung volume, and lower lung volume/body weight ratio on some postnatal days. IUGR rats had a significantly lower lung saturated phosphatidylcholine and lower plasma corticosterone levels on postnatal d 1 only, and values were comparable between control and IUGR rats in the ensuing weeks. Lung surfactant protein (SP)-A, SP-B, SP-C, and SP-D mRNA expressions were similar between control and IUGR rats. Volume fractions of the alveolar airspace were significantly lower in IUGR rats on postnatal d 7, 14, and 42. Alveolar surface areas were significantly lower in IUGR rats during the study period. The alveolar surface area/body weight ratio reached a peak on postnatal d 7, and values were significantly lower in IUGR rats on postnatal d 1, 14, 28, and 42. We conclude that maternal undernutrition during late gestation decreases lung surfactant lipid levels in the immediate postnatal period and alters the development of lung structure during the postnatal period. Alteration of lung surfactant and structure may be important in the pathogenesis of impaired pulmonary function in IUGR infants and children.
