Prenatal environmental tobacco smoke exposure promotes adult atherogenesis and mitochondrial damage in apolipoprotein E-/- mice fed a chow diet.
BACKGROUND
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is recognized as a cardiovascular disease risk factor; however, the impact of prenatal ETS exposure on adult atherogenesis has not been examined. We hypothesized that in utero ETS exposure promotes adult atherosclerotic lesion formation and mitochondrial damage.


RESULTS
Atherosclerotic lesion formation, mitochondrial DNA damage, antioxidant activity, and oxidant load were determined in cardiovascular tissues from adult apolipoprotein E-/- mice exposed to either filtered air or ETS in utero and fed a standard chow diet (4.5% fat) from weaning until euthanasia. All parameters were significantly altered in male mice exposed in utero to ETS.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the hypothesis that prenatal ETS exposure is sufficient to promote adult cardiovascular disease development.
Yang
Zhen
Z
Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.
Knight
Cynthia A
CA
Mamerow
Madonna M
MM
Vickers
Kasey
K
Penn
Arthur
A
Postlethwait
Edward M
EM
Ballinger
Scott W
SW
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics*; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000975:Antioxidants; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D004041:Dietary Fats; D016877:Oxidants; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution