Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 1, 2026

Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs
08:58

Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs

Published on: October 31, 2025

882

Prenatal development is linked to bronchial reactivity: epidemiological and animal model evidence

Katharine C Pike1, Shelley A Davis2, Samuel A Collins3

  • 11] Clinical and Experimental Sciences Academic Unit, University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine, Southampton, UK [2] NIHR Southampton Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit [3].

Scientific Reports
|April 18, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Maternal nutrition during pregnancy impacts offspring respiratory health. Poor prenatal nutrition in rats and humans is linked to increased bronchial hyperreactivity, suggesting developmental programming influences lung function.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Respiratory medicine
  • Perinatal nutrition

Background:

  • Chronic cardiorespiratory disease is linked to low birthweight, highlighting the significance of the prenatal environment.
  • While prenatal factors influencing fetal growth are recognized, the specific mechanisms remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of developmental programming on bronchial hyperreactivity using an animal model.
  • To seek evidence for comparable associations between prenatal development and bronchial hyperreactivity in humans.

Main Methods:

  • Pregnant Wistar rats received control or protein-restricted diets; offspring bronchoconstrictor responses and lung morphometrics were analyzed.
  • A human mother-child cohort study correlated ultrasound-measured fetal growth with bronchial hyperreactivity (methacholine challenge) at age six.

Main Results:

  • Offspring of protein-restricted rats exhibited enhanced bronchoconstriction compared to controls, without structural airway alterations.
  • Human children with reduced abdominal circumference growth during early gestation showed greater bronchial hyperreactivity.

Conclusions:

  • Imbalanced maternal nutrition during pregnancy leads to bronchial hyperreactivity in offspring.
  • Prenatal environmental influences, including nutrition, may play a significant role in human respiratory health and disease development.

More Related Videos

Evaluation of Respiratory System Mechanics in Mice using the Forced Oscillation Technique13:10

Evaluation of Respiratory System Mechanics in Mice using the Forced Oscillation Technique

Published on: May 15, 2013

59.1K
A Reversible, Non-invasive Method for Airway Resistance Measurements and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Sampling in Mice09:58

A Reversible, Non-invasive Method for Airway Resistance Measurements and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Sampling in Mice

Published on: April 13, 2010

22.3K

Related Concept Videos

Asthma I: Introduction01:28

Asthma I: Introduction

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by variable airflow obstruction and heightened bronchial responsiveness to a wide range of triggers. The underlying inflammation leads to airway swelling, mucus hypersecretion, and smooth muscle constriction, all of which narrow the airway lumen and impede airflow. Clinically, asthma presents with recurrent episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, symptoms that typically vary in intensity and...
112
Asthma-I: Introduction01:29

Asthma-I: Introduction

Asthma is a chronic respiratory ailment that requires careful management due to its varying symptoms and influencing factors. It is characterized by airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and reversible airflow obstruction, leading to symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. The symptom frequency and intensity may vary considerably over time. It is also linked to immune system responses to allergens and irritants, highlighting the complex...
3.6K
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features01:24

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features

Chronic bronchitis is a key phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by airway-centered inflammation and mucus overproduction. It develops from long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases, most commonly cigarette smoke, which triggers a persistent inflammatory response.Cellular and Structural ChangesInflammation initially affects the large bronchi and later the smaller airways, with infiltration by immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and...
40
Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification01:26

Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification

Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition marked by inflammation and hyperresponsiveness of the airways. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among inflammatory pathways, immune responses, and neural mechanisms.
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
4.7K
Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management01:20

Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management

Asthma is a chronic pulmonary condition involving inflammation of the airways, hyper-reactivity, and reversible obstruction of the airways. This condition can significantly impact a person's quality of life, making breathing difficult and leading to distressing symptoms.
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
1.5K
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease I: Introduction01:23

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease I: Introduction

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common, preventable, and treatable respiratory disorder characterized by persistent symptoms and progressive airflow limitation. This limitation results from a combination of small-airway disease (obstructive bronchiolitis) and parenchymal destruction (emphysema), both driven by chronic inflammation from exposure to harmful particles or gases.The disease includes two main pathological entities: emphysema, marked by destruction of alveolar walls and...
33