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Effects of short term forced oral breathing in rat pups on weight gain, hydration and stress
Guy S Padzys1, Simon N Thornton, Jean-Marc Martrette
1Université H. Poincaré, B.P.70239, 54506 Vandœuvre-les-Nancy, France.
Insights
Short-term nasal obstruction in young rats caused dehydration and slowed growth. These effects resolved after breathing returned to normal, suggesting a potential model for newborn blocked nose syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Developmental Biology
- Respiratory Science
Background:
- Nasal obstruction is linked to sleep-disordered breathing and reduced quality of life.
- Developing rat pups provide a model to study the physiological impacts of nasal obstruction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate hydration changes and growth impacts from short-term nasal obstruction in developing rats.
- To analyze physiological parameters during and after nasal obstruction recovery.
Main Methods:
- Inducing reversible, bilateral nasal obstruction in young rat pups.
- Monitoring body weight gain, gastric content weight, plasma osmolality, vasopressin, and corticosterone levels.
- Comparing measurements during obstruction (days 9, 11, 13) and recovery (days 15, adulthood).
Main Results:
- Oral breathing rat pups exhibited slower weight gain and decreased gastric content.
- Increased plasma osmolality and vasopressin indicated dehydration during nasal obstruction.
- Short-term effects on growth and blood glucose in females resolved by day 15; corticosterone normalized in males by 90 days.
Conclusions:
- Short-term nasal obstruction in developing rats leads to temporary dehydration and impaired growth.
- This model may represent blocked nose syndrome in newborns, with potential long-term developmental implications.
- Recovery of nasal breathing allows for normalization of physiological parameters and growth trajectories.
Abstract:
Nasal obstruction is a risk factor in sleep-disordered breathing with a negative impact on the quality of life in humans. We investigated hydration changes produced by short term reversible, bilateral, nasal obstruction in young developing rat pups. Physiological parameters of growth (weight gain and gastric content weight) and dehydration were analyzed during two periods; during nasal obstruction at post-natal day 8 (days 9, 11 and 13), plus 7 and 90 days after recovery of nasal breathing (day 15 and adulthood). Body weight gain in oral breathing rat pups was slower compared to controls. Gastric weight was decreased significantly only in oral breathing rat pups on days 9 and 11 while plasma osmolality and vasopressin levels increased (indicators of dehydration). There were no differences between controls and treated rat pups by day 15, or at adulthood. Short term nasal obstruction-induced forced oral breathing, decreased gastric content which had a negative impact on growth and blood glucose concentration in the short term for female rat pups. Plasma corticosterone levels increased during the dehydration but were normal in males by 90 days. This could be a model for blocked nose syndrome in the newborn. Possible long term consequences on development are discussed.
