Impact of hypoxia exposure, combined with induced maternal obesity, on gestating sprague dawley dams

Abstract

Obesity is now considered to be a global epidemic, impacting a great number of women and leading to a higher risk of obstetrical and gestational complications. One of such possible adverse outcomes in gestating female is placental hypoxia, which has been related to vascular remodeling and hypertension, as well as adaptive phenomena to reduce levels of oxidative stress and damage. A pool of female Sprague Dawley rats (n=63) was first assigned into two dietary groups (Control and High Sugar). Following mating, the pregnant rats (n=39) were again distributed into two oxygen treatment groups (Normoxia and Hypoxia) for 3 weeks, and tissue sampling and biochemical analyses were carried out. The main results of this study are the following: 1) Hypoxia during gestation may lead to a reduction in the average number of pups per mother, 2) Hypoxia during gestation treatment may lead to a decrease in maternal serum TG levels, and consequentially 3) Hypoxia during gestation may lead to a reduction in TyG Index levels. These results suggest that hypoxia could generate a beneficial response in pregnant Sprague Dawley rats to salvage both maternal and fetal viability. Thus, reproducing mild hypoxic conditions could result being a viable therapeutic option in preventing gestational adversities. In conclusion, progress was made in recognizing the possible role of a mild hypoxic environment in stimulating a maternal protective response.