Abstract
Since most mothers who smoke cigarettes may have smoked when pregnant, it is difficult to distinguish between pre- and postnatal effects of maternal smoking on their children's lungs. Using an animal model we demonstrated earlier that maternal smoking leads to a selective pattern of fetal growth retardation with predominant impact on the lungs, with significantly reduced lung weight, lung/body weight ratio and total lung DNA content. (Ped. Res. 17,4:138A, 1983). Using the same rat model we now present a morphometric analysis of the lungs of 4 experimental and 3 control term fetuses derived from a total of 6 litters. Results: Volumes of lungs fixed and inflated at 15 cm H2O pressure were less in the experimental group, 0.28 vs 0.33 ml, p<.005. The total number of saccules was reduced, 3.2 × 106 vs 5.5 × 106, p<.005, and average saccular volume was increased, 35 × 10−9 vs 21 × 10−9ml, p<.025. The internal surface area was decreased, 161 vs 198 cm2, p<.001. Total length of elastic tissue was reduced, 224 vs 354 M, p<.05, but length per unit area and per unit volume were not significantly different. We conclude that the lungs of fetuses of smoke-exposed dams are hypoplastic, have less surface available for gas exchange and have enlarged saccules. It is possible that the impaired lung growth noted in children of smokers may have started in utero.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Collins, M., Moessinger, A., Kleinerman, J. et al. LUNG HYPOPLASIA IN FETUSES OF RATS EXPOSED TO CIGARETTE SMOKE: A MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 388 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01772
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01772