Decreased birth weight and attainment of postnatal catch-up growth in offspring of rats exposed to cigarette smoke during gestation.
Pregnant rats were exposed to cigarette smoke daily for a 2-hour period throughout gestation and the body weights of offspring were monitored for 5 weeks postnatally. The average birth weight of the cigarette smoke exposed pups was significantly smaller compared to both pair-fed and ad libitum control groups. However, the body weights of the pups exposed to smoke were no longer significantly different from those in the pair-fed and ad libitum control groups at weeks 1 and 2 after birth, respectively. This study indicates that fetal growth retardation caused by exposure to cigarette smoke during pregnancy does not persist after birth.
Leichter
J
J
School of Family and Nutritional Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development*; D001724:Birth Weight; D001835:Body Weight; D004435:Eating; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D008098:Litter Size; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014026:Nicotiana
D012906:Smoke