Histomorphological changes in newborn rat lung induced by maternal sugar intake

Abstract

Respiratory conditions are the most common reason for admission to the neonatal unit for both term and premature newborns. It is known that nutritional imbalances during pregnancy affect the maturation and functional capacity of organs.

Objective: to describe the pulmonary histomorphology of newborn rats due to maternal sugar intake by light microscopy.

Material and Method: Twenty 4-week-old female Wistar rats divided into control and experimental groups with sucrose before and during pregnancy were used. At week 15, the females mated with males overnight. We recorded values from the body and lung weight of the newborns. The lungs were stained using Hematoxylin and Eosin, Masson’s trichrome, Periodic acid-Schiff, and Verhoeff.

Results: Newborns from the experimental group presented significantly lower body and lung weight (6.980 ± 0.493* g, 0.164 ± 0.022* g; *p < 0,05) compared with controls (7.854 ± 0.497 g, 0.189 ± 0.005 g). The lungs of the experimental group showed structural alterations in the lung parenchyma, as well as changes in glycogen deposits, collagen fibers, and elastin compared with the control group.

Conclusion: Alterations in newborn lung growth and development are associated with maternal sucrose intake. It is important to remember that interventions on the maternal diet have beneficial effects for both the mother and the newborn.