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Prenatal hypoxia impairs the postnatal development of neural and functional chemoafferent pathway in rat.

Authors :
Peyronnet J
Roux JC
Geloën A
Tang LQ
Pequignot JM
Lagercrantz H
Dalmaz Y
Source :
The Journal of physiology [J Physiol] 2000 Apr 15; Vol. 524 Pt 2, pp. 525-37.
Publication Year :
2000

Abstract

1. To define the effects of prenatal hypoxia on the postnatal development of the chemoafferent pathway, ventilation and metabolism, pregnant rats were exposed to normobaric hypoxia (10 % oxygen) from embryonic day 5 to embryonic day 20. Offspring were studied at 1, 3 and 9 weeks of age in three separate protocols. 2. Prenatal hypoxia decreased the dopamine content in the carotid bodies at all ages, and decreased the utilisation rate of noradrenaline in the caudal part of the A2 (A2c), A1 and A5 noradrenergic brainstem cell groups at 3 weeks after birth. At 9 weeks of age, the level of dopamine in the carotid bodies was still reduced but the utilisation rate of noradrenaline was enhanced in A1. 3. Rats from dams subjected to hypoxia during pregnancy hyperventilated until 3 weeks after birth. In these rats, the biphasic hypoxic ventilatory response was absent at 1 week and the increase in minute ventilation was amplified at 3 weeks. 4. Prenatal hypoxia disturbed the metabolism of offspring until 3 weeks after birth. A weak or absent hypometabolism in response to hypoxia was observed in these rats in contrast to control animals. 5. Prenatal hypoxia impairs the postnatal development of the chemoafferent pathway, as well as the ventilatory and metabolic responses to hypoxia. These alterations were mostly evident until 3 weeks after birth.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0022-3751
Volume :
524 Pt 2
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
The Journal of physiology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
10766931
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7793.2000.00525.x