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Published on: December 14, 2014
Impairment of Central Chemoreception in Neonatal Rats Induced by Maternal Cigarette Smoke Exposure during Pregnancy
Fang Lei1, Xiang Yan1, Fusheng Zhao1
1Department of Physiology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
Insights
Prenatal cigarette smoke exposure (CSE) in rats impairs neonatal central chemoreception, a key respiratory reflex. This study provides evidence that maternal smoking during pregnancy negatively impacts infant respiratory control.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Respiratory Physiology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Prenatal cigarette smoke exposure (CSE) is linked to increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Infant death syndrome victims exhibit respiratory abnormalities, including central apnea and altered respiratory patterns.
- Experimental evidence is lacking on whether prenatal CSE reduces neonatal central chemoreception in vitro.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that maternal CSE during pregnancy depresses central chemoreception in neonatal rats.
- To assess the impact of prenatal CSE on the neonatal rat's response to respiratory challenges.
Main Methods:
- Pregnant rats were divided into control and CSE groups.
- Neonatal rat pups (0-3 days) were studied using medullary slices.
- Fictive respiratory activity was recorded from hypoglossal rootlets.
- Central chemosensitivity was tested by perfusing with acidified artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF).
Main Results:
- No significant differences in burst frequency (BF) or integrated amplitude (IA) were observed between groups under standard aCSF.
- Acidified aCSF increased BF and decreased IA in both groups.
- The magnitude of these changes was significantly smaller in the CSE group compared to controls, indicating reduced chemosensitivity.
Conclusions:
- Maternal CSE during pregnancy adversely affects central chemoreception in neonates.
- This study provides experimental evidence linking prenatal smoke exposure to impaired neonatal respiratory control.
- The findings suggest a potential mechanism for the increased SIDS risk associated with maternal smoking.
Abstract:
It has been postulated that prenatal cigarette smoke exposure (CSE) increases the risk for sudden infant death syndrome. The victims of infant death syndrome suffer from respiratory abnormalities, such as central apnea, diminished chemoreflex and alteration in respiratory pattern during sleep. However, no experimental evidence on CSE model exists to confirm whether prenatal CSE gives rise to reduction of neonatal central chemoreception in in vitro preparations in absence of peripheral sensory feedback. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that maternal CSE during pregnancy depresses central chemoreception of the neonatal rats. The pregnant rats were divided into two groups, control (n = 8) and CSE (n = 8). Experiments were performed on neonatal (0-3days) rat pups. Fictive respiratory activity was monitored by recording the rhythmic discharge from the hypoglossal rootlets of the medullary slices obtained from the neonatal rats. The burst frequency (BF) and integrated amplitude (IA) of the discharge were analyzed. Their responses to acidified artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) were tested to indicate the change of the central chemosensitivity. Under condition of perfusing with standard aCSF (pH 7.4), no significant difference was detected between the two groups in either BF or IA (P>0.05). Under condition of perfusing with acidified aCSF (pH 7.0), BF was increased and IA was decreased in both groups (P<0.01). However, their change rates in the CSE group were obviously smaller than that in the control group, 66.98 ± 10.11% vs. 143.75 ± 15.41% for BF and -22.38 ± 2.51% vs. -44.90 ± 3.92% for IA (P<0.01). In conclusion, these observations, in a prenatal CSE model, provide important evidence that maternal smoking during pregnancy exerts adverse effects on central chemoreception of neonates.
